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T HE 

LIFE 



OF 



ALEXANDER 

THE 

GREAT. 

KING of MAC ED ON. 

COMPILED FROM ANCIENT flISTORY. 

\ ; : . 

By Mr, R O L L I N, 

bote Principal of the Univerfity of Paris, Profejfir of Eloquence in 
the Royal College, end Member of the Royal Academy of In/crip* 
■ions and Btltes-Lettres, 



TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. 



PROVIDENCE : 

Printed by B. W H E E L E R* 

For JO $ E P H 7. TODD, 

At the Bible and Anchor, 



moccxcvi. 



Mi 



CONTENDS 



*ct*L Alexander's birth. 'The happy natural in- 
clination of that Prince. Arijlotle is appoint- 
ed his preceptor, who infpires him with a fur- 
prifmg tafte for learning, tie breaks Bucepha- 
lus. - - - Page i. 
31. Alexander after the death of Philip of sends the 
throne at twenty years of age. ■ Hefubjecls and 
reduces the nations contiguous to Macedon who 
had revolted. He goes into Greece to dijfolvG 
the alliance formed v again ft him. He pojfejjes 
himfelf of and deftroys Thebes y and pardons 
the Athenians. He gets himfdf nominated, in 
the diet or ajfemMy at Corinth, generalijfimo of 
the Greeks againft Perfia. He returns to M'&~ 
cedon, and makes preparations for carrying hi: 
arms into Afia. - id 

III. Alexander fets out fronuMa cedon upon his ex- 
pedition, again]* the Perf t ans. He arrives at 
Ition, and. pays great honour to the tcmb of 
Achilles. He fights the fir ft battle againft the 
Per fans at the river Granicus, and obtains a- 
famous viclory. - 

IV. Alexander co*iqtiers~ the~ great eft part of Afia- 
Minor. He falls fick of a mortal di/lemper* 
ouafioned by bathing in the fiver Sydnus. 
Philip the phyftcian cures him in a f<w days. 
Alexander pajes the freights of Ciiida* T)u- 
^kus, advances 'at-thejami '.time*. The bold anal 

t& - 






~2 




i ■ 1 Sim . ■■■ , » >-- 



CONTENDS 



"S©ct*L Alexander's birth. The happy natural in - 

^clination of that Prince. Arijtotle is appoint- 
ed his preceptor , mho infpires him with a fur- 
prifing t aft e for learning. He breaks Bucepha- 
lus. - - - Page I 
I. Alexander after the death of Philip afcends the 
throne at twenty years of age. ■ Hefuljecls and 
reduces the nations contiguous to Mace don who 
had revolted. He goes into Greece to dijfohe 
the alliance formed } again ft him. He pojfejfes 
hi mj elf of and deftroys. Thebes , and pardons 
the Athenians. He gets bintf :lf nominate d> in 
the diet or ajfembly at Corinth, generaliffimo of 
the Greeks againft Perfia. He returns to M'&- 
cedon, and makes preparations for carrying hi: 
arms into AJia. - *o 

III. Alexander fets out from^Macedon upon his ex- 
pedition, againft the Perfians. Pie arrives at 
Jtion, and. pays great honour to the tcmh of 
Achilles. He fights the fir ft battle a^tnft the 
Perfians at the riixer Granicus, and obtains & 
famous vi Story. - _ - - G 

IV. Alexander conquers, the^. grzalejl part cf AJlu- 
Minor. He fills fick of a mortal d'i(leMper r 
ocxaftoned by bathing in the liver Sydnus. 
Philip the phyftcian cures him in a fw days. 
Alexander p ajfes the freights of CM. ia . Da- 
&us.ad-mncesat'th&/am£,time.. The bold anal 



C O Ni T E K T & 

free anfwer of Caridemus to that prince, whicS 
cofts him. his life*- Defer ipfion of Darius* 
Turret*'- - •- — 40 

V. Alexander gains a famous viclory over Darius ; 
near the city of /Jus. The confequences of 
that viBory* - - - 58 

"VI. Alexander marches vitloriaus into Syria ; the 
treafures depofited in Damafcus are delivered 
to him. Darius writes a letter to Alexander 
in the mo ft haughty terms, which he anfwer s 
in. the.,. fame flile. The gates of the city of 
aidon are opened to him* Abdolonymous is 
placed upon the throne a gain his will, Alex- 
ander, lays jiege to Tyre, which at lafi, after 
having made a vigorous defence, is. taken by 
fiorm. The fulfilling of the different prophe- 
cies relating to Tyr^e. - - - 75., 
VII. Darius writes, a fecond letter to Alexander. 
Journey of the latter to Jerufalem. The hon- 
our he pays toffaddus the high prieft. He is 
jBezvn thofe prophecies of Daniel which relate 
to himfelf. The king grants great privileges 
to the Jzws, but refufes them to the Samari- 
tans. He befieges and takes Gaza, enters 
Egypt, and fubdues. that country. He there 
lays the foundation of Alexandria, then goes 
into Lybia, where he vifits the temple of Jupi- 
ter ^jnmon y and.cau[es himfelf to be declared the 
ftih cf that god. His return into Egypt. 1 05 
ajter his- return from Egypt, re- 
pur fait of Darius, at his fet ting 
rs of the death- of that monarch's 
: cnufes the fever a I honours to 
zh zQcre. dws ta her rank. .//*. 

&*3 



CONTENT S, 

paffes the Euphrates and'Tygris y and comes 
up with, Darius, . "life famous battle of' 
Arbela. - - - 120 

IX. Alexander pojfejfes himfelf of Arbela, Babylon, 

Su/a, Perfepolis -, and finds i mm en/9 riches in 

thoje cities. . In the. heat of drinking he Jets 

fire to the Palace of Perfepolis. 137 

X. Darius leaves Ecbatana. He is betrayed and 
put in chains by Bejfus governor of BacTria. 
The latter, upon Alexander's advancing tow- 
ards him y flies, after having t covered Darius 
with wounds, who expires a few moments be- 
fore Alex andefs .arriva L He fends his corpfe 
to Syfigambis, . - - - 152 

XI. Lacedemonia revolts from the Macedonians, 
wiit almoft all Peloponneffus. Antipater 
marches out upon this occafion, defeats the en- 
emy in a bat tie, in zvhich Agis is killed. Al- 
exander marches againjl Bejfus, . ¥haleftris> 
queen of the Amazons, comes to vtfit him from , 
afar country. Alexander, at his return from 
Parthia, abandons himfelf jo pieafures and ex- 
cels. He continues his march towards Bejfus, 
Thale/iris, queen of the- Amazons y comes to 
vtfit him from*, a far country. Alexander, at 
bis return from Parthia, abandons himfelf to 
flea fur e and excefs* He continues his macrh 
towards Bejfus. A -pretended con/piracy of 
Philotas againjl the king. He and Parmenio 
his father, are put to death. Akxander Jub- 
dues fever al nations*. He at laftwrrives in 
BiEtriana } wbither Bejfus is brought Po him. 1 58 

XII. Aiexmidtr after taking a great wmy cities ir*.. 
BucLrianz^ buHd.t cm mar tha ri&r laxarthc^ 

vibicbj 



C O N T E .»r T S, 

which he calls by his own name. The Scythi- 
msalptrmed at the building of 'this city, fen* 
ambajadors. to the king. He gains a/La, 
viflory over the Scythians. He checks and 
tWiJhes the mjHrremon of the Sogdians, fend, 
tiejujto Ecbatana, .to be put to death, ana 
takes the city of Petra, which was thouvht 
impregnable. - _ f 6 

X#L The de&bof Clitus. Several expeditions of 
Alexander. He commands wor/hip to be paid 
to himfelf, after the manner of the Perfians 
Difcontents arife among the Macedonians, 
Death of Cahfthenes thrphilofopher. iqq 

XIV, Alexandenfets out for India. He befitges and 
tMesfeveral cities which appeared impregna- 
ble, and isoftenin danger of his life. He crcfs- 
es the fiver Indus* afterwards the Hydafpes, 
and gains a ftgnal vielory over Porus, whom 
he reft ores to his throne. - r . 202 
XV. Alexander advances into India. Refolves to 
march as far as the Ganges^ which raifes a 
general ' dif eon tent in his army. ' Remonftrances 
being made to him on that account, he. lays cfide 
his defign, and is contented with going no far- 
ther than the ocean. He fubdues all things in 
Us way thither , and is expofe-d to great danger 
at the fiege of the city of the Oxydracae ; . anH 
arriving at laft at the ocean, he afterwards 
prepares for his return into Europe. 220 

XVI. Alexander, in his march through, ds farts, is 

grievoifly diftrejfed by famine. He arrives at* 

Pjifagardae, where Cyrus's ^loni'meni food. 

Orfines, a powerful lord, is put to de:-th kj the. 

■ ' ' vide/line intrigues of \C [ago as tke.euwtbl G*> 

tm 



CONTENTS. 

\, laus the Indian afcends a funeral pile, .where 

s| he puts him/elf to death. Alexander marries 

1 Statira, the daughter of Darius. Harpalus 

j% arrives at Athens ; Demofthenes is banijhed. 

The Macedonian joldiers make an injur reclion? 
which Alexander appeafes. He recalls Antip- 
ater from Macedonia, and fends Craterus in 
his room. The kings forrow for the death of 
Hepbaefticn. — - - - 232 

3£V II. Alexander enters Baby Ion y contrary to thefini- 
fter predictions of the Magi and Soothfayers. 
He there forms the plan of fever al voyages and 
tconquefs. He Jets about repairing the breach- 
es made in the piers of the Tygris and Euphra- 
tes, and rebuilding the temple of Balus. He 
abandons himfelfto immoderate drinking, which 
brings him to his end. The universal grief 
jpreadover the whole empire upon that ac count m 
Syjigambis is not able tojurvive him. Pre- 
parations are made to convey Alexander's corps 
*o the temple of Jupiter -Ammon^ in Libya. 247 



THE 

LIFE of ALEXANDER 



BOOK I. 



Sect. I. Alexander's birth. The happy natural i>- 
xatton of that Prince. Arifiotle is appointed his 
preceptor, who infpires him with a furprifing tafte 
for learning. He Ireaks Bucephalus- 



A 



LEXANDER came into the world the 
year of the CVIth Olympiad. 

The paflion which ever prevailed mod in Alex- 
ander, even from his tender years, was ambiticn, 
and an ardent defire of glory ; but not for every 
fpecies of glory. Philip (his father) like a fophift, 
.valued himielf upon his eloquence and the beauty 
of his flile ; and had the vanity to have engraved on 
his coins the feveral victories he had won at the 
Olympick. games in the Chariot-race. But it was 
not to this his fon afpired. His frierrds aflcing him 
one day whether he would not be prefent at 

.mes above-mentioned, in order to 

B p: 



THE 

LIFE of ALEXANDER. 



BOOK I, 



Sect. I. Alexander's birth. The happy natural in- 
clination of that Prince. Ariftotle is appointed his 
preceptor, who infpires him with a Jurprifing tafie 
for learning. He breaks Bucephalus '. 

jflJLEX ANDER came into the world the firffc 
year of the CVIth Olympiad. 

The paflion which ever prevailed mod in Alex- 
ander, even from his tender years, was ambititn, 
and an ardent defire of glory ; but not for every 
fpecies of glory. Philip (his father) like a fophift, 
-valued himfelf upon his eloquence and the beauty 
of his (tile ; and had the vanity to have engraved on 
his coins the feveral victories he had won at the 
Olympick games in the Chariot-race. But it was 
not to this his fon afpired. His friends afking him 
one day whether he would not be prefent at the 
games above-mentioned, in order to difputc the 

B prize 



14 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

prize be flowed on that occafion ? for he was very 
fwift of foot, He anfwered, That he would contend 
in them, provided kings were to be his antagonifts. 

Every time news was brought him that his father 
had taken fome city, or gained fome great battle. 
Alexander fo far from fharing in the general joy, 
ufed to fay in a plaintive tone of voice, to the young 
perfons who were brought up with him, friends, my 
father will poflefs himfelf of every thing, and leave 
nothing for us to do. 

One day fome am bafladors from the king of Per- 
sia being arrived at court during Philip's abfencc, 
Alexander gave them fo kind and fo polite a recep- 
tion, and regaled them in fo noble and generous a 
manner, as charmed them all ; but tlv.t which mod 
furprifed them was, the good fenfe and judgment he 
discovered in the feveral converfations they had with 
him,. He did not propofe to them any thing that 
vms trifling, and like one of 'his age; but enquired 
the roads to Upper Afia ; thediltance of the feveral 
places ; in what the ftrength and power of the king 
of Perfia confided ; in what part of the battle Tie 
fought ; how he behaved towards his enemies ; and 
in what manner he governed his fubjecls. Thefe 
ambaffadors admired him all the while ; and per- 
ceiving even at that time how great he might one 
day become, they obferved in a few words, the dif- 
ference they found between Alexander and Ai tax- 
erxes, by faying one to another, This young prince 
is great, and our's is rich. That man mull be vaflly 
ir.fignificant, who has no other merit than his riches ! 

So ripe a judgment in this young prince, was ow- 
ing as much to the good education which had been 
given him, as to the happinefs of his natural parrs, 

Several 






THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 15 

Several preceptors were appointed to teach him all 
fuch arts and fciences as are worthy the heir of a great 
kingdom ; and the chief of thefe was Leonidas, a 
perfon of the mod fevere morals and a relation of 
the queen. Alexander himfelf tells us afterwards, 
that this Leonidas, in their journies together, uled 
frequently to look into the trunks where his beds 
and clothes were laid, in order to fee if Olympias his 
mother had not put fomething fuperfiuous into them, 
which might adminifter to delicacy and luxury. 

But the greateft fervice Philip did his fon, was 
appointing Ariftotle his preceptor, the mod famous 
and the mod learned philofopher of his age, whom 
he entrufted with the whole care of his education. 
One of the reafons which prompted_Philip to choofe 
him a mailer of fb confpicuous a reputation and me- 
rit was, as he himfelf tells us, that his fon might 
avoid committing a great many faults of which he 
himfelf had been guilty. 

Philip was fenfible how great a treafure he poflefT- 
cd in the perfon of Ariftotle ; for which reafon he 
fettkd a very confiderableftipend upon him, and af- 
terwards rewarded his pains and care in an infinitely 
more glorious manner ; for having deftroyed and 
laid wafte the city of Stagira, the native place of that 
philofopher, he rebuilt it, purely out of affection for 
him ; reinflated the inhabitants who had fled from 
it, or were made flaves -, and gave them a fine park 
in the neighbourhood of Stagira, as a place for their 
ftudies and aflemblies. Even in Plutarch's time, 
the ftone feats which Ariftotle had placed there were 
ftanding ; as alio fpacious viitoes, unJzr which thole 
who walked were flia'ded from the funbeams. 

Alexander 



l6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Alexander likewife difcovered no lefs efteem for 
his matter, whom he believed himfelf bound to love 
as much as if he had been his father ; declaring that 
he was indebted to the one for living ; and to the 
other tor living well. The progrefs of the pupil 
was equal to the care and abilities of the preceptor. 
He grew vaftly fond of philofophy ; and learned the 
feveral parts of it, but in a manner fuitable to his 
birth. Ariftotle endeavoured to improve his judg- 
ment, by laying down fure and certain rules, by 
which he might diftinguifh juft and folid reafoning 
from what is but fpecioufly fo ; and, by accuftom- 
ing him to feparate in difcourfe all fuch parts as only 
dazzle frcm thofe which are truly folid, and mould 
coniiitute its whole value. 

The greater!: matter of rhetoric that antiquity 
could ever boaft, took care to make that fcience part 
vi his pupil's education ; and we find that Alexan- 
der, even in themidft of his conquefts,was often very 
urgent with Ariftotle, to fend him a treatife on that 
iubjecl. To this we owe the work entitled Alexan- 
der'^ Rhetoric, in the beginning of which, Arifto- 
tie proves to him the vaft advantages a friend may 
reap from eloquence, as it gives him the greater! 
afcendant over the minds of men, which he ought 
to acquire as well by his wifdom ns by authority. 
Some anfwers and letters of Alexander, which are (till 
extant, ihow that he poiTelTed, in the grcateft perfec- 
tion, that ttrong, that manly eloquence, which 
abounds with fenfe a;.d ideas ; and which is fo en- 
tirely free from fupertluous exprefiions, that every 
jingle word has its meaning ; which, properly fpeak- 
[, is the eloquence of kings. 

He 



THE LIF* OF ALEXANDER. VJ 

He had alfo a tafte for the whple circle of arts, 
but in fuch a manner as became a prince ; that is, he 
knew the value and ufefulnefs of them. Mufic, 
painting, fculpture, architecture, flourifhed in his 
reign, becauie they found in him both a fkilful judge, 
and a generous protector, who was able to diftinguiih 
and reward merit. 

But he defpifed certain trifling feats of dexterity, 
that were of no ufe. Some Macedonians admired 
very much a man, who employed himfelf very atten- 
tively in throwing fmall peas through the eye of a 
needle, which he wouid do at a confiderable dis- 
tance, and without once milling. Alexander feeing 
him at this exercife, ordered him, as we are told, a 
preient, fuitable to his employment, viz, a bafket 
of peas. 

Alexander was of a fprightly difpofition ; was re- 
folute, and very tenacious of his opinion, which ne- 
ver gave way to force, but at the fame time would 
fubmit immediately to reafon and good fenfe. It is 
very difficult to treat with perfons of this turn of 
mind. Philip accordingly, notwithstanding his 
double authority of king and father, believed it ne- 
cefTary to employ perfuafion rather than force, with 
refpeel: to his fon, and endeavoured to make h-im- 
{c\( beloved rather than feared by him, 

An accident made him entertain a very advanta* 
geous opinion of Alexander. There had been Cent 
from Thefialy to Philip a war-horfe, a noble, ftrong, 
fiery, generous bead, called Bucephalus. The 
owner would fell him for thirteen talents, about 
i^ool. fterling. The king went into the plains, at- 
tended by his courtiers, in order to view the perfec- 
B 2 tions 



*§ THE m FE OF A LEX AN DEI& 

tions of this horfe ;„ but upon trial he appeared' fo* 
very fierce, and pranced about in fo very furious a 
manner, that no one dared to mount him , Philip, 
being angry that fo furious and unmanageable a crea- 
ture had been lent him, gave orders for their carry- 
ing him back. again* Alexander, whowas prefent at 
that time, cried out, What a noble horfe they are 
going to lofe,. for want of addrefs and boldnefs to. 
back him ! Philip,. at firft,. confidered thefe words 
as the. effecl: of folly and raibnefs,,fo common to 
young men :\ but as Alexander infilled (till more 
upon. what he had faid, and was very much, vexed to, 
fee fo. noble a, creature ju ft going. to be feat .home.- 
again>.his father gave him leave to try what he could, 
do* The young prince overjoyed at this permit 
flon, goes up to Bucephalus, takes hold of his bri- 
dle, and turns his- head to the fun ; having obferved; 
the thing which frighted him was his own fhadow, he 
feeing it dance about, or fink down,, in proportion as 
he moved. He, therefore, firft.ftroked him gently 
with his hand, and foathed.him with his voice, then, 
feeing his metal. abate, . and artfully, taking his op-, 
pprtunity, he let fall his cloak, and fpringing upon 
his back, fidt. flackened the rein, without once frri-r 
king or vexing him : and when he perceived that his , 
fire was cooled, that he, was no longer fo furious 
and violent, aad wanted only to move, forward,, he 
gave him the reia, and fpurring him with great vi- 
gour, animated him. with his voice to his full, fpeed, . 
While this was doing, Philip and his whole court 
trembled with fear, and did not once open their lips > . 
but when the prince, after having run his firft heat, 
returned with joy and pride, at his having, broke a 
hoxfe which was judged abfolutely ungovernable, 

the. 



T.HE LIFE Or ALEXANDER, Pg 

tfcr courtiers in general endeavoured to outvie one 
another in their applaufes and congratulations ; and- 
we are told Philip med tears of joy on theoccafion,, 
and embracing Alexander after he was alighted, and- 
kifling his head, he laid to him, My fon, feek a. 
kingdom more worthy of thee, for Macedonis be- 
low thy merit. 

We are told a great many furprifing particulars 
of this- Bucephalus ; that wheQ this creature was- 
faddled and equipped for battle, he would fuffer no 
one to back him but his mailer -, and k> would not 
have been fafe for any perfon to go near him. 
Whenever Alexander wanted to mount him, he 
would kneel down upon his two fore-feet. Accord- 
ing to Tome hiitarians, in the battle ag-ainft Porus, 
where Alexander had plunged too imprudently 
amidft a. body of. the enemy, his horfe, though 
wounded in every part of his body, did however ex- 
ert himfelf in fo vigorous a manner, that he faved his 
matter's life ; and notwithftanding the deep wounds 
he had received, and though* almoft fpent througrt 
the great efft^fion of blood, he brought off Alexan- 
der from among the combatants, and carried him 
with inexpreffible vigour to a place of fecurity j. 
where perceiving the king was no longer in danger, 
and overjoyed in fome. meafure at the fervice he had 
done him, he expired.. Others fay, that Bucephalus r 
quite worn out, died at thirty years of age. Alex- 
ander bewailed his death bitterly, believing that he> 
had loft in him a mod faithful and affectionate friend ; 
and afterwards built a city on the very fpct where he 
was buried, near the river Hydrafpes, and called it 
B^Aicephalia/. in honour of hirru 

Alexander 



SO THB WFE OF ALIXANDEK. 

Alexa^iler, at fixteen years of age, was appointed 
regent or Macedonia, and invefted with abfolute au- 
thority during his fathers abfence ; he behaved with 
great prudence and bravery ; and afterwards diftin- 
guifhed himfelf in a moft fignal manner at the bank 
of Chasronea. 

Sect. II. Alexander after the death of Philip af* 
cends the throne at twenty years of age. He fubjecls 
and reduces the nations contiguous to Macedon who 
had revolted. He goes into Greece to dijfolve the 
alliance formed againfi him. He pojfejfes himfelf 
of and dejlroys Thebes, and pardons the Athenians* 
He gets himfelf nominated, in the diet or ajfembly at 
Conn thy generalijfimo of the Greeks againfi Perjia. 
lie returns to Macedon , and makes preparations for 
carrying his arms into Afia. 

(a) Darius and Alexander began to reign the 
fame year : the latter was but twenty, when he fuc- 
ceeded to the crown. His firft care wa* to folemnize 
the funeral ^obfequics of his father with the utmoil 
pomp, and revenge his death. 

Upon his accefilon to the throne, he faw himfelf 
furrounded with extreme danger. The barbarous 
nations againfi; whom Philip had fought during his 
whole reign, and from whom he had made feveral 
conquefts, which he had united to his crown, after 
having dethroned their natural kings, thought pro- 
per to take the advantage of this juncture, in which 
a new prince who was -but young, had a fee nded the 
thrOne, for recovering their liberty, and uniting 

againft 

M A M* j663. Ant. ?. C. 386. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. II 

againft the common ufurper. Nor was he under 
lefs apprehenfions from Greece. Philip, though he 
had permitted the feveral cities and commonwealths 
to continue their ancient form of government, had 
however, changed it in reality, and made himfelf ab- 
folute mailer of it. Though he were abfent, hene- 
verthelefs ruled in all the aflemblies ; and not a Tin- 
gle resolution was taken, but in fubordination to his 
will. Though he had fubdued all Greece, either by 
the terror of his arms, or the fecret machinations of 
his policy, he had not had time Sufficient to Subject 
and accuftom it to his power, but had left all things 
in it in great foment and diforder, the minds of the 
vanquifhed not being yet calmed nor moulded to 
Subjection. 

The Macedonians reflecting on this precarious 
Situation of things, advifed Alexander to relinquifh 
Greece, and not perSift in his reSolution oS Subduing 
it by force ; to recover by gentle methods the Barba- 
rians who had taken arms, and to Soothe, as it were, 
thoSe glimmerings of revolt and innovation by prudent 
referve, complacency, and infinuations, in order to 
conciliate affection. However, Alexander would 
not liften to theSe timorous counSels, but reSolved to 
Secure and Support his affairs by boldneSs and mag- 
nanimity ; firmly perSuaded, that fhould he relax in 
any point at firft, all his neighbours would Sail upon 
him j and that were he to endeavour to compromise 
matters, he mould be obliged to give up all Philip's 
conquers, and by that means confine his dominions 
to the narrow limits ofMacedon. He, therefore, 
made all poflible hafte to check the arms of the Bar- 
barians, by marching his troops to the banks of the 
ube, which he croffed in on* night. Hedefeat- 
B3 ed 



nofthenes, 
•rince. A 
i, infpired 
their ruin. 



22 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

ed the king of the Tribalti in a great battle ; made 
the Getse fly at his approach j fubd'ued feveral bar- 
barous nations, fome by the terror of his name, and 
others by the force of his arms; and notwithstanding 
the arrogant * anfwer of the ambafTadors, he taught 
them to dread a danger (till more near them than the 
falling of the fky and planets. 

While Alexander was thus employed at a diftance 
againft the Barbarians, all the cities of Greece, who 
were animated more particularly by Demofthenes, 
formed a powerful alliance againft that pri 
faife report, which prevailed of his death, 
the Thebans with a boldnefs which proved 
They cut to pieces part of the Macedonian garrifon 
in their citadel. Demofthenes,on the other fide was 
every day harrarrgumg the people j and fired with 
contempt for Alexander, whom he called a child and 
a hair-brained boy, he aiTured the Athenians, with a 
decifi/e tone of voice, that they had nothing to fear 
from the new king of Macedon, who did not dare to 
ftir out of his kingdom; but would think himfelf 
•vaftly happy, could he fit peaceably on his throne. 
At the fame time he writ letters upon letters to At- 
ralus, one of Philip's lieutenants in Afia-Minor, to 
excite him to rebel. This Attalus was uncle to Cleo- 
patra, Philip's fecond wife, and was very much dif- 
pofed to liften to Demofthenes' propofal. Never- 
thelefs, as Alexander was grown very diffident of him, 
for which he knew tMre was but too much region ; 
he, therefore, to eradicate from his mind all the fuf- 

picions 

* Alexander imagining that his name only badftruck tbofe , 
iuitb Hrror y ajked their ambaj/adors what things they dreaded m- 
they replied iviib a haughty tone of v sice, that tbty nxert ajr*u 
M,bi»g tut the falling of the Jkj and ftart* 



E 



VHE Lir£ OF ALEXANDER. 2 J 

icions he might entertain, and the better to fcreen 
is defign, Tent all Demofthenes' letters to that prince. 
But Alexander law through all his artifices, and 
thereupon ordered Hecataeus, one of his comman- 
ders, whom he had fent into Afia for that purpofe, 
to have him afTaMinated, which was executed accord- 
ingly. Attalus's death reftored tranquility to the 
army, and entirely deftroyed the feeds ofdifcord and 
rebellion. 

(b) When Alexander had fecured his kingdom from 
the Barbarians, he marched with the utmoft expedi- 
tion towards Greece, and palled the Thermopylae. 
He then fpoke as follows to thofe who accompanied 
him : Demofthenes called me, in his orations a child, 
when I was in Illyria, and among the Triballi.j he 
called me a young man when I was in Theffaly ; and 
I muft now (how him, before the walls of Athens 
that I am a man grown. He appeared fo fuddeniy 
in Bcetia, that theThebans could fcarce believe their 
eyes j and being come before their walls, was wil- 
ling to give them time to repent, and only demand- 
ed to have Phoenix and Prothutes, the two chief 
ringleaders of the revolt, delivered up to him, and 
publifhed, by found of trumpet, a general pardon to 
all who Ihould come over to him. But the The- 
bans, by way of infult, demanded to have Philotas 
and Antipater delivered to them ; and invited, by a 
declaration, all who were folicitous for the liberty of 
Greece, to join with them in its defence. 

Alexander, finding it impoflible for him to 
get the better of their obftinacy by offers of peace, 
and faw with grief, that he fhould be forced to employ 
his power, and decide the affair bv force of arms. 

A 
A, M. 3670. Ant, 7. C. 334. 



24 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

A great battle was thereupon fought, in which the 
Thebans exerted themfelves with a bravery and ar- 
dour much beyond their ftrength, for the enemy ex- 
ceeded them vaftly in numbers: but after a long 
and vigorous refiftance, fuch as furvived of the Ma- 
cedonian garrifon in the citadel, coming down from 
it, and charging the Thebans in the rear, furrounded 
on all fides, the greater!: part of them were cut to 
pieces, and the city was taken and plundered. 

It would be impofiible for words to exprefs the 
dreadful calamities which the Thebans fuffered on 
this occafion. Some Thracians having pulled down 
the houfe of a virtuous lady of quality, Timoclea by 
name, carried off all her goods and treafures ; and 
their captain having feized the lady, and fatiated his 
brutal luft with her, afterwards enquired whether fhe 
had not concealed gold and filver. Timoclea, ani- 
mated by an ardent defire of revenge, replying that 
fhe had hid fome, took him with herfelf only into 
her garden, and mowing him a well, told him, that 
the inflant fhe faw the enemy enter the city, fhe her- 
felf had thrown into it the mofl valuable things in 
her pofTefljon. The officer overjoyed at what he 
had heard, drew near the well, and ftooping down to 
fee its depth, Timoclea who was behind, pufhing 
him with all her ftrength, threw him into the well, 
and afterwards killed him with great flones which fhe 
threw upon him. She was inftantly feized by the 
Thrac'ans, and being bound in chains, was carried 
before Alexander. The prince perceived immedi- 
ateiy by her mien, that fhe was a woman of quality and 
great (pin for fhe followed thofe brutal wretches 
h a very haughty air, and without di {covering the 
lead fezr. Alexander afkingwho fhe was, Timoclea 

replied, 



THE LIF£ OJ? ALEXAND-Eft- 

• lied, I am fitter toTheagenes, who fought a gal nil 
Philip for the liberty of Gvzcce, and was killed in 
Jthe battle of Chceronea, where he commanded. 
The prince, admiring the generous anfwer of that 
lady, and ftiJl more the action fh.e had done, gave 
orders that (he fhould have leave to retire wherever 
ibc pjeafed with her children. 

Alexander then debated in council, how to acl 
with regard to Thebes. The Phocceans and the 
.people of Plata?, Thelpiae, and Orchcmenus, who 
were ail in alliance with Alexander, and had fhared 
in his victory, represented to him the cruel treat- 
ment they had met with from the Thebans, who alio 
had deftroyed their feveral cities ; and reproached 
them with a zeal which they had always discovered, 
in favour of the Perfians .againil the Greeks, who 
held them in the utmoft decettation ; the proof of 
which was, the oath they all had taken to dettroy 
Thebes, after they fhould have vanquifhed the Per- 
fians. 

Cleades, one of the pr "doners, being permitted to 
fpeak, endeavoured to excufe in fome meaiure, the 
revolt of the Thebans ; a fault, which, in his opini- 
on, fhould be imputed to a raih and credulous im- 
prudence, rather than to depravity of will and de- 
clared perfidy. Fie remonftrated, that his country- 
men, upon a falfe report of Alexander's* death, had 
indeed too rafnly broke into a rebellion, not againtt 
the king, but againtt his fucGcilorSi That what 
crimes l'oevcr they had committed, they had been 
ied for them with the utmoft fevericy., by the 
dreadful calamity which had befallen their city. 
Tfiat there now remained in it none but women, 

ildren, and old men, from whom they had nothing 
C to 



l6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

to fear -, and were fo much the greater objects of 
companion, as they had been no ways concerned in 
the revolt. He concluded with reminding Alex- 
ander, that Thebes, which had given birth to fo 
many Gods and heroes, feveral of whom were that 
king's anceftors, had alfo been the feat of his father 
Philip's rifing glory, and like a fecond native coun- 
try to him. 

Thtfe motives, which Cleades urged, were very 
flrong and powerful ; neverthelefs, the anger of a 
conqueror prevailed, and the city was deftroyed. 
However he fet at liberty the priefts ; all fuch as 
had right to hofpitality, with the. Macedonians ; the 
defendants of Pindar, the famous poet, who had 
done fo much honour to Greece ; and fuch as had 
oppofed the revolt : but all the reft, in number 
about thirty thouland, he fold, and upwards of fix 
thouland had been killed in battle. The Atheni- 
ans were fo fenfibly afrlifled at the fad difatter which 
had befallen Thebes, that being about to folemnize 
the feftival of the great myfteries, they fufpended 
them, upon account of their extreme grief, and re- 
ceived with the greateft humanity all thofe who had 
fled from the battle, and the plunder of Thebes, and 
made Athens their afylum. 

Alexander's fo fudden arrival in Greece, hui very 
much abated the haughtinefs of the Athenians, and 
extinguished Demofthenes' vehemence and fire; but 
the ruin of Thebes, which was itill more fudden, 
threw them into the utmoft confirmation. They, 
therefore, had recourfe to entreaties, and fent a depu- 
tation to Alexander, to implore hisj:lemency. De- 
mofthenes was among them -, but he was no fooner 
arrived at Mount- Cytheron, than dreading the an- 
g< r of that prince, he quitted the embaffy and r 
mntd home. Immediate! 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. TJ 

Immediately Alexander fent to Athens, requiring 
the citizens to deliver up to him ten orators, whom 
he fuppofed to have been chief inftruments in form- 
ing the league which Philip his father had defeated 
at Chcerona. It was on this occafion Demoiihenes 
related to the people the fable of the wolves and dogs, 
in which it is fuppefed, That the wolves one day 
told the fheep, that in cafe thev defired to be at 
peace with them, they mufb deliver up to them the 
dogs who were their guard. T he application was 
eafy and natural, efpecially with refpect to the ora- 
tors, who were juitiy compared to dogs, whole duty 
is to watch, to bark, and to fight, in order to lave 
the lives of the Mock. 

In this prodigious dilemma of the Athenians,who 
couid not prevail with themfelves to deliver up then 
orators to certain death, though they had no other 
way to fave their city, Demades, whom Alexander 
had honoured with his friend fhip, offered to under- 
take the cmbaiTy alone, and to intercede for them, 
the king, whether he had fatiated his revenge, or en- 
deavoured to blot out if poflible, by fome act of 
clemency, the barbarous action he had juft before 
committed ; or rather, to remove the feveral obfta- 
cles which might retard the execution of his grand 
defign, and by that means not leave, during his ab- 
sence, the !e aft pretence for murmurs, waved his de- 
mand with regard to the delivery of the orators, and 
was pacified by their fending Caridemus into banifh- 
ment, who being a native of Orea, had been preient- 
ed by the Athenians with his freedom, for the fer- 
vices he had done the republick. He was fon in 
law to Cherfobleptus, king of Thrace ; had learned 
she arc of war under Iphicrates, and had himfelf fre- 
quently 



1% THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 



euentlv commanded the Athenian armies. To a vol 
the purfbic of Alexander, he took refuge with the 
king of Perfia. 

As for rhe Athenians, he not only forgave the fe- 
vers] injuries he pretended to have received, but ex- 
preffed a particular regard for them, exhorting them 
co apply themftives vigoroufly to public affairs, and 

!reep a watchful eye over the fever al traductions 
which might happen jr ^becaulc, in- cafe of his- death,, 

ir city was co give laws to the reft of Greece. 
Biftofians relate, that many years after this expedi- 
tion, he was, firized with deep rem brie k>r the cala- 
mity he had- brought upon the Thebans, and that 
this made him behave with much greater humanity 
towards many other nations. 

So dreadful an example of feverky towards fa 
powerful a city as Thebes, fpread the terror of his. 
arms through all Greece, and made all things give 
r. av before him ; he fummoned at Corinth,, the af- 

nbly of the feveral Mates and ^rtc cities of Greece,. 

obtain from them' the fame fupreme command 

ifrift the Perfians as had been granted his father a. 
ifttle before his death. No diet ever debated 
on a more important fubjecTt. It was the weftera 
world deliberating upon the ruin of the caft, and the 
methods for executing a revenge fufpended more than 

age. The ailembly held at this time, will give 
rife to events, the relation of which will appear af- 
ton'nhing and almolt incredible > and to revolutions,, 
which will change the difpofnion of mo(t things in 
the world. 

To form fuch a defrgn required a prince bold, en- 
terprifmg and experienced in war; fuch a prince s 
Alexander, It was not di for him to rek in 



rfiK LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 20, 

in the minds of the people their ancient hatred of * 
the Perfians, their perpetual and irreconcileable ene- 
mies j whofe deftruttion they had more than once 
faro re. The deliberations of the affembly were 
therefore very fhort, and that prince was unani- 
moufly appointed generaliffimo againft the Perfians. 
Immediately a great number of officers and go- 
vernors of cities, with many philofophers, waited 
upon Alexander to congratulate him upon his elec- 
tion. He flattered himfelf^ that Diogenes of Sy- 
nope, who was then at Corinth,, would alio come like 
the red and pay his compliments* This philosopher, 
who entertained a very mean idea of grandeur, 
thought it improper to congratulate m^n j-u(t upon 
their exaltation ; but that mankind ought to wait 
till thofe perfons*have performed actions worthy of 
their high itations. Diogenes therefore did not ftir 
out of his houfe ; upon which Alexin Jer, attended 
by all his courtiers, made him a vifrt.. The philofo- 
pher was at that time lying down iir the fun ; buc 
feeing io great a crowd of people advancing cow,;: 
him, he fet up and fr&ed his eyes on Alexander, 
This prince furprifed to fee io famous a philosopher 
reduced to fuch extreme poverty,- after felling him 

in the kindeft manner, aiked whether he wanted 
any thing ? Diogenes replied, Yes, that you would 
Hand a little out of my funfhin.e. This anfwer raifed 
the contempt and indignation of ali the courtiers i 

but the monarch, ftruck with thephilofopher's great- 
nefs pf foul, Were I not Alexander, fays he, I wo. 
be Diogenes. Avery profound fen fe lies hid in this 
exprefiion, which mews perfectly the bent and dif- 
pofition of the heart of man. Alexander is frnilde 
s is formed to pofiefs all things \ fuch is his 
C z ceitiny, 



3* TfUB LIFE OF ^LEXA'NDEP.V 

deftiny, in which.he makes his Ivappinefsconfln* ; bu 
then in cafe he (hould not be able to compafs h 
ends, he is alio, feiifibls, that to be happy,. he mult 
endeavour to bring his mind to. fueh a frame as to- 
want nothing,. In a word* all or nothingprefents 
us with, the true image of Alexander and Diogenes*. 
How great and, powerful fo.ever that prince mights 
think, himfeif,. he could, not deny himfeif,. on this 
eccafion,, inferior to a man,, to -whom he could give,, 
and from whom he could take, nothing. 

Alexander, before he fet out. for Ada, was- deter- 
mined to eonfult the oracle of Apollo. He there- 
fore went to, Ddphos . ;., he happened, to arrive at is 
on thofe days which are called, unlucky,. a. feafon i-v 
which, people forbid confulting the oracle ; and ap*J 
cordingly the pricdefs refufed. to go to the temple,. 
But Alexander, who could not- bear any contradic- 
tion to his will, took her forcibly by the arm -, and>, 
as he was leading her to the Dempie, (he cried out*. 
My ion,, thou arc irrefHlible. This was all. he deri- 
ved ;. and catching hold cf thefe words,, which he 
considered as fpoke by the oracle, he fet out for Ma- 
cedonia, in order, to- make preparations for. hie great 



exp< 



iQ-^O' 



Sec. TIL Alexander fits cut from Macedon upon- hi $ 
expedition- againft tht Per/tans. He arrives at Iti- 
en, and pays great honour to, the tomb of Achilles* 
lie fights the Jirft battle againft the Perfians at the 
river Grunicmts., and obtains a famous victory. 

(c) Alexander, being arrived in this kingdom, 
keld d, council with the chief, officers of his army. 

the 
(() A. IL 5670. Ant, 7, C 334> 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* ^T 

riie grandees of his courts on the expedition he medi- 
tated againil Peril i, and the meafures he mould tak? 
in order to fucceed in it. The whole aiTembly was 
unanimous, except on one article. Antipater and 
Parmenio were of opinion,, that the king, before he 
engaged in an enterprise which would necefTarily be 
a long one, ought to make choice of a confort in or- 
der to fecure himfelf a fucceffor to his throne. Buu 
Alexander, who was of a violent fiery temper, did 
not approve of this advice ; and believed, that after 
he had been denominated generaliflimo of the Greeks,, 
and chat his father had. left him an invincible army>. 
it would be a fhame for him. to lofe time in folem- 
tiling his nuptials, and waiting for the fruits-of it & 
for which reafon- he. determined to let out immedi- 
ately. - 

Accordingly he offere 1 up very fplendid facririccs 
to the gods, and caufed to be celebrated at Dia, a ci-- 
ty of IVLacedon,* fcenical games,- that had been in- 
itituted by one of his. anceftors in honor of Jupiter 
and the mufes. This feitival continued nine days* 
agreeable to the number of thefe goddefses. He 
had a tent raifed large enough to-hold a hundred tab- 
bies, on- w-hich. confequently nine hundred covers 
might be laid. To this feaft, the feveral princes of 
his family, all the ambaffadors,. generals, and officers* 
were invited* He alio treated his whole army. It 
was then he had the famous vifion, in which he was- 
exhorted to march fpeedily into Afia,. of which men- 
tion. will be. made in the fequel. 

Before, he fet out upon this expedition, he fettled 
the affairs of Maced j n, over which he appointed 
Antipater as vicer> y with twelve thoufand foot, and 
• . the fame number of horfe. 

-* \tatrhal rifrrtUntations wrg fa ialkd^ 



J2 THE LrFE OF ALEXANDER. 

He alfb enquired into the domeftic affairs of his 
friends, giving to one an eftate in land, to another a 
village, to a third the revenues of a town, to a fourth 
the toll of an harbour, and as all the revenues of his 
demefnes were already employed and exhauded by 
his donations, Perdicas faid to him, My lord what is 
it you referve for yourfelfl Alexander replying, 
hope ; fays Perdicas, the fame hope ought therefore 
to fatisfy. us : and fo refufed very gcneroufty to ac- 
cept of what the king had appointed him. 

Alexander, after having fettled affairs in Macedo^ 
nia, and ufed, all the precautions imaginable, to 
prevent any troubles from ariiing in it during his ab- 
sence, let out for Ada in the beginning of th^ fpring. 
His army confided of little more than thirty thou- 
sand foot, and four or fwe thoufaftd horfe j but then 
they were all brave men ; were well difciplined, and 
inured to fatigue ; had made feveral campaigns un- 
der Philip ; and were each of them, in cafe of necefii- 
ty capable of commanding. Moil of the officers 
were near threefcore years of age ; and when they 
were either afiembled, or drawn up at the head of a 
camp, they had the air of a venerable fenate. Par- 
menio commanded the infantry. Philotas, his fun, 
had eighteen hundred horfe under him - r and Callas, 
the fame number of ThefTalian cavalry. The reft of 
the horfe, who were compofed of natives of the feve^ 
ral dates of Greece, and amounted to fix hundred, 
had their particular commander. The Thracians 
and Paeon ians, who were always in fron>\ were head- 
ed by Caffander. Alexander began his route along 
the lake Circinum towards Amphipolis; croffed the 
river Stryman, near its mouth -, i ;*erwardstheHebrur, 
and arrived at Sedos after twenty days march. I 

then 



: LITE ( 

ed Paimenio to crofs over from Seitos- 
I the horfe ?.r>d -pa: t of the foot; — / 

lich he accordingly did by the aiTiftanceof an hun- j 
dred -r ec a ore gallics, and fc veral flat-bottomed : 

veff. !s. As for Alexander, he went from Eleontum 
to the port of the Achaians, himfeif (leering his own- 
galley ; and being got to the middle of the Hellef- 
pont\ t he facrihced a bull- to Neptune and the Nere- 
ides ; and. made effulions in the fea- from a golden 1 
cup. It is alio related, that after having thrown a- 
javelin ar the land, as thereby to- take pofTemori ot 
it, he landed firft in AHaj and leaping from the (hip 
completely armed, and in the higheii tranfports of 
joy, he erected altars on the more to Jupiter, t.o Mi- 
nerva, and to Hercules, for having favoured him 
with fo propitious a defccnt.. He had done the fame 
at his leaving Europcv 

He depended fo entirely en the happy fuccefs of 
his arms, and the rich fpoils he fhould find in Afi3, 
that he had made very little provision for {o great an 
expedition ; perfuaded that war when carried on fuc- 
ccisfully,. would iupply all things necefTary for war. 

He had but feventy talents in money (feventy 
thousand crowns) to pay his army, and only a month's 
provision ; but his foidiers were infpired with fo 
much courage and fecurity, that they fancied they 
marched not to precarious war, but certain victory. 

Being arrived at the city of Lampfacus, which he 
was determined to deftroy, in order to punifn there* 
beilion of its inhabitants, Aneximenes-, a native of 
that place, came to him. This man, who was a fa- 
mous hiirorian, had been very intimate with Philip 
his father ; and Alexander himfelf had a great ef- 
oeem for him, having been his pupil. The kingy 
C 3 fufpecting.. 



34 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

fufpecting the bufinefs he was come upon, to be 
beforehand with him, fwore, in exprefs terms, that he 
would never grant his requeft. The favour I have 
to defire of you, fays Anaximenes, is, that you would 
deftroy Lampfacus. By this witty cvafion the hif- 
torian faved his country. 

From thence Alexander arrived at Ilion, where 
he paid great honours to the manes of Achilles, and 
caufed games to be celebrated round his tomb. He 
admired and envied the double felicity of that re- 
nowned Grecian, in having found during his life time, 
a faithful friend in Patroclus ; and after his death, a 
herald in Homer, worthy the greatnefs of his ex- 
ploits. 

At laft Alexander arrived on the banks of the 
Gr*nicus, a river of Phrygia. The Sataprae, or de- 
puty-lieutenants, waited his coming on the other fide 
of it, firmly refolved todifpute the paflage with him. 
Their army confifted of one hundred thoufand foot, 
and upwards of ten thoufand horfe. Memnon,who 
was a Rhodian, and commanded under Darius all 
the coaft of Afia, had advifed the generals not to ven- 
ture a battle $ but to lay wafte the plains, and even 
the cities, thereby to ftarve Alexander's army, and 
oblige him to return back into Europe. Memnon 
was the bed of all Darius's generals, and had been 
the principal agent in his victories. But Arfites, a 
Phrygian Satrap, oppofed the opinion of Memnon, 
and protefted he would never fuffer the Grecians to 
make fuch havoc in the territories he governed. 
This ill council prevailed over that of the foreigner 
(Memnon) whom the Perfians, to their great preju- 
dice, fufpe&ed of a defign to protract the war, and by 
that means make himfelf neceflary to Darius. 

Alexarjtr, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. J5 

Alexander, in the mean time, marched on at the 
head of his heavy armed infantry,drawn up in two lines, 
with the cavalry in the wings : the baggage follow- 
ed in the rear. Being arrived upon the banks of 
the Granicus, Parmenio advifed him to encamp there 
in battle-array, in order that his forces might have 
time to reft themfelves, and not to pafs the river till 
very early next morning, becaufe the enemy would 
then be lefs able to prevent him. He added, that 
it would be too dangerous to attempt eroding a ri- 
ver in fight of an enemy, efpecially as that before 
them was deep, and its banks very craggy >, Co that 
the Perfian cavalry, who waited their coming in bat- 
tle-array, on the other fide, might eafily defeat them 
before they were drawn up. That befides the lofs 
which would be fuftained on this occafion, this en- 
terprife, in cafe it mould prove unfuccefsful, would 
be of dangerous confequence to their future affairs ; 
the fame and glory of arms depending on the fir ft 
actions. 

However, thefe reafons were not able to make the 
leaft impreffion on Alexander, who declared, that it 
would be a fhame, fhould he, after eroding the Kel- 
lcfpont, fuffer his progrefs to be retarded by a rivu- 
let, for fo he called the Granicus out of contempt ; 
that they ought to take advantage of the terrour, 
which the fuddennefs of his arrival, and the boldnefs 
of his, attempt, had fpread among thePerfians; and 
anfwer the high opinion the world conceived of his 
courage, and the valour of the Macedonians. The 
enemy's horfe, which was very numerous, lined the 
whole fhore, and formed a large front, in order to 
oppole Alexander, wherever he fhould endeavour to 
pals i and the foot which confifted chiefly of Greeks, 

in 



^^^^^^m 



3° THE LIFE OF A'LEX-ANDER. 

:in Darius's fervice, was pof>ed behind, upon an enfy 
.alcent. * 

The two armies continued a -long time in fight of 
■eacn other, on the banks of the river, as if dreadino- 
the event The Perfians waited till the Macedoni- 
ans ihould -enter the river, in order to charge them 
*o advantage upon their landing, and the latter 
itemed to be making choice of a place proper frr 
•cro/ung, and to furvey the countenance of their ene 
•tines. Lpon this, Alexander haying ordered his 
fcorte to be brought, commanded the noblemen of 
the court to follow him, and behave gallantly. He 
nmftif commanded the right wing, and Parmenio 
tr.e kit. • I he king rlrft caufed a (bong detachment 
to march into me river, himiclf following it with the 
ml of the forces. He made Parmenio advance af- 
terwards with the left wing. He himfelf led on the 
right wing into the river, followed by the red of the 
troops -, the trumpet founding, and the whole army 
railing cnes of joy. J 

'Lhe Perfians, Seeing this detachment advance for- 
ward, began to let fly their arrows, and march to a 
place where the declivity was not fo great, in order 
to keep the Macedonians from landing. But now 
the horfe engaged with great fury ; one part endea- 
vouring to Ian,!, and tne other driving to prevent 
them, 1 he Macedonians, whole cavalry was vaftly 
inferior m n r >er, befi e the advantage of wound 
were wounded with d*rts that were fhot from the 
emn.eiice ; no.i to mention that tiie flower of t: 
Pejfian horfc />ere drwn together in this place 

i that M ■iiinon, in concert with his fons, com- 

ided there. The Macedonians therefore . 

e ground, after having loft iheir firit ranks, - 

m<; 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. J7 

made a vigorous defence. Alexander, who had fol- 
lowed them clofe, and reinforced them with his befl 
troops, heads them himfelf, animates them by his 
prefence, pufhes the Perfians, and routs them ; upon 
which the whole army follow after, crofs the river, 
and attack the enemy on all fides. 

Alexander firft charged the thickeft part of the 
enemy's horfe, in which the generals fought. He 
himfelf was particularly confpicuous by his fhield, 
and the plume of feathers that overfhadowed his 
helmet, on the two fides of which there role two 
wings as it were, of a great length, and fo vaftly 
white, that they dazzled the eyes of the beholder. 
The charge was very furious about his perfon j and 
though only horfe engaged, they fought like foot, 
man to man, without giving way on either fide ; 
every one driving to repulfe his adverfary, and gain 
ground of him. Spithrobates, lieutenant-governor 
of Ionia, and fon-in-law to Darius, diftinguifhecl 
himfelf above the reft of the generals by his ilipe- 
riour bravery. Being furrounded by forty Perfian 
lords, all of them his relations, of experienced valour, 
and who never moved from his fide, he carried ter- 
ror wherever he moved. Alexander obferving in 
how gallant a manner he fignaliied himfelf, clapped 
fpurs to his horfe, and advanced towards him. Im- 
mediately they engage, and each having thrown a 
javelin, wounded the other (lightly. Spithrobates 
falls furioufly fword in hand upon Alexander, who 
being prepared for him, thrufts his pike into his 
face, and laid him dead at his feet. At that very 
moment, Rofaces, brother to that nobleman, char- 
ging him on that fide, gives him fo furious a blow- 
on the head with his battle-axe, that he beat off his 

D plume, 



33 THE MFE OF ALEXANDER* 

plume, but went no deeper than the hair. As he was 
going to repeat his blow on the head, which now ap- 
peared through his fractured helmet, Clicus cuts off 
Rofaces' hand with one ftroke of his fcimetar, and 
by that means faved his fovereign's life. The dan- 
ger to which Alexander had been expofed, greatly- 
animated the courage of his foldiers, who now per- 
form wonders. The Perfians in the centre of the 
horfe, upon whom the light- armed troops, who had 
been polled in the intervals of the horfe, poured a per- 
petual difcharge of darts ; being unable to fuftain 
any longer the attack of the Macedonians, who flruck 
them all in the face, the two wings were immediately 
broke and put to flight. Alexander did not purfue 
them long, but turned about immediately to charge 
the foot. 

Thefe, fays the hiflorian, at firfl: flood their 
ground, which was owing to the furprife they we*e 
&ized with, rather than bravery. But when they faw 
themfelves attacked at the fame time by the cavalry* 
and the Macedonian phalanx, which had crofTed the 
river, and that the battalions were now engaged ; 
thofe of the Perfians did not make either a long or a 
vigorous refiflance, and were foon put to Bight, the 
Grecian infantry in Darius' lervice excepted. This 
body of foot retiring to a hill, demanded a promife 
from Alexander to let them march away unmoleiledi 
but following the dictates of paflion, rather than 
thofe of reafon, he rulhed into the midfl of this body 
of foot, and prefently loft his horfe (not Bucephalus) 
who was killed with the thruft of a fword. The 
battle was fo hot round him, that moft of the Mace- 
donians, who loft their lives on this occafion, fell 
here* for they fought againft a body of men who 

were 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 39 

were well difciplined, had been inured to war, and 
fought in defpair. They were all cut to pieces, two 
thoufand excepted, who were taken prifoners". 

A great number of the chief Perfian commander? 
lay dead on the fpot. Arfites fled into Phfygia, 
where it is faid he laid violent hands upon himfelf, 
for having been the canfe that the battle was fought. 
Twenty thoufand foot, and iwo thoufand five hun- 
dred horfe, were killed in this engagement, on the 
fide of the Barbarians ; and of the Macedonians, 

cnty-flve of t^he royal horfe were killed at the iirft 
attack. Alexander ordered Lyfippus to make their 
ftatues in brafs, all which were fet up in a city of 
Macedon called Dia, in honour of them, from 
whence they were many years after carried to Rome 
by Q^ Metellus, About three fcore of the other 
horfe were killed; and near thirty foot, who, the 
next day, were all laid, with their arms and tq pi- 
page, in one grave ;. and the king granted an exemp- 
tion to their fathers and children from every kind or 
tribute and fervice. 

He alfo took the utmoft care of the wounded, vi- 
fitecf them, and faw their wounds dreffed. He en- 
quired very particularly into their adventures, and 
permitted every one of them to relate his actions in 
the battle, and boaft his bravery. He alfo grant- 
ed the rites of fepulture to the grandees of Perfia, 
and did not even refufe it to fuch Greeks as died in 
tae Perfian fervice; but all thofewhom he took pri- 
foners he laid in chains, and fent them to work as 
flaves in Macedonia, for having fought under the 
Barbarian ltaadards againfl their country, contrary 
to the exprefs prohibition made by Greece upon that 
head- 

Alexander 



40 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Alexander made it his duty and pleafure to (hare 
the honour of his victory with the Greeks; and i'cnt 
particularly to the Athenians three hundred ihields, 
being part o/ the plunder taken from the enemy ; 
ar\d caufecl the following infeription to be inferibed 
on the red of the fpoils : 'Alexander, fon of Philip, 
with the Greeks (the Lacedaemonians excepted) 
gained thefe fpoils from the Barbarians, who inhabit 
Afia.' The gg?ateft part of the gold and filver plate, 
the purple carpets, and other furniture of the Perfian 
luxury, he fent to his mother. 

Sect. IV. Alexander conquers the greattft fart of' 
Afia-Minor. He falls Jick of a mortal dtftemper, 
•ccafioned by bathing in the river Sydnus. Philip 
the phyfuian cures him in a few days. Alexander 
f/h the freights of Cilicia. Darius advances at 
fame time. The bold and free anjwer of Caride- 
mus to that prince? which cofts him his life. Def- 
er ipt ion of Darius' march. 

(a) The fuccefs of the battle of Granicus had 
all the happy confequences that could naturally be 
expected from it. Sardis, which was in a manner 
the bulwark of the Barbarian empire on the fide 
next the lea, furrendered to Alexander, who there- 
upon gave the citizens their liberty, and permitted 
them to live after their own laws. Four days after 
he arrived at Epheius, carrying with him thofe who 
had been banifhed from thence (or being his adher- 
ents, and rtftored its popular form of government. 

He 

(a) A, M. 36-1. Ant. J, C 353. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER** 4* 

He afiigned to the temple of Diana the tributes 
which were paid to the kings of Perfia, He offer- 
ed a great number of facrifices lo that goddefs; io- 
lemniied her iiiyiteries with the utmoft pomp, and 
conducted the ceremony with his whole army drawn 
up in battle array. The Ephefians had begun to re- 
build the temple of Diana, which had been burned 
the night of Alexander's birth, and the work was 
now very forward. Dinocrates, a famous architect, 
who fuperintended this edifice, was employed by 
this king to build Alexandria in Egypt.- Alexander 
offered to-pay the Ephefians all the expences they had 
already been at, and to furnifh the remainder, provided 
they would infcribe the temple only with his name ; 
the inhabitants of Ephefus not beina: willing to con- 
fent to it, and however afraid to refufe him that ho- 
nour openly, had recourfe to an artful flattery for an 
evafion. They told him,.that it was inconfiilent for 
one god to erecl monuments to another. Before he 
left Ephefus, the deputies of the cities of Trallis and 
Magnefia, waited upon him with the keys of thole 
places. 

He afterwards marched to Miletus, which city, 
flattered with the hope of a fudden and powerful fup- 
port, fhut their gates againft him : and indeed the 
Perfian fleet,, which was very considerable, made a 
(hew as if it would fuccour that city •> but after ha- 
ving made feveral fruitlefs attempts to engage that 
of the enemy, it was forced to fail away. Memnon 
had fhut himfelf up in this fortrefs, with a great 
number of his foldiers, who had efcaped from the 
battle, and was determined to make a good defence. 
Alexander, who would not lofe a moments time, at- 
tacked it "and planted fcaling ladders on all fides. 
D 2. The 



42 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER.* 

The fcalado was carried on with great vigour, and 
oppoied with no lefs intrepidity, though Alexander 
lent frefh troops to relieve one another without the 
lead intermitlion -,, and this lafted feveral days. At 
lafb, finding his foldiers were every where, repulfed* 
and that the city was provided with every thing for 
a long fiege, he planted all his machines againft it,, 
made a great number. of breaches, and whenever 
thefe were attacked*, a new fealado was attempted. 
The befieged after fuftaining all thefe efforts with 
prodigious bravery, capitulated for fear of being tw 
ken by dorm. Alexander treated all the Milefians- 
with the utmoft humanity, and fold all the foreign- 
ers who were found in it. The hiflorians do not 
make any mention of Memnon, but we may reafon- 
ibiy fuppofe that he marched out with the garrifon. 

Alexander, feeing that the enemy's fleet was failed 
away; refolved to lay up his own, the expence of k 
being too great,, not to mention that he wanted mo- 
ney for things of greater importance. Some hifto- 
rians are even of opinion,, that as he was upon the 
point of coming to a battle with Darius, which was 
to determine the fate of the two empires, he was re- 
iolvtd to deprive his foldiers of aJl hopes of retreat,, 
arffi to leave them no other reiource than that of vic- 
tory. He, therefore, retained fuck veflels only of 
his fleet, as were abfoiutely neceffary for tranfport- 
ing the military engines, andafmall number of other 
galiies. 

After pQfTcfTing himfelf of Miletus, he marched 
into Caria, in order to lay fiege to HalicarnafTus. 
This city was of prodigious difficult accefs from its 
happy fhuation, and had been ftrongly fortified, 
Befides Ivkmnon,, the ablcft as well as the moil va- 
liant 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 43 

liant of all Darius* commanders, had got into it 
with a body of choice foldiers,, with defign to fig- 
nalize his courage and fidelity for his fovereign* 
He accordingly made a very noble defence, in which 
he was feconded by Ephialtes, another general of 
great merit. Whatever could be expected from the 
mod intrepid bravery, and the molt confummatc 
knowledge in the fcience of war, was confpicuouson 
this occafion. After the befiegers had, with, incre- 
dible labour, filled up part of the ditches, and brought 
their engines near the walls, they had the grief to lee 
their works demolifhed in an inftant, and their en- 
gines fet on fire,, by the frequent vigorous Tallies of 
the befieged. After beating down part of a wall 
with their battering rams, they were aftonifhed to fee. 
a new one behind it > which was io Hidden,, that it 
feemed to rife out of the ground. The attack of 
thefe walls, which were built in a femi- circular form,, 
deflroyed a prodigious number of men j. becaufe the 
befieged, from the top of the towers that were railed 
on the feveral fides, took the enemy in fiank. It 
was evidently feen at this fiege, that the ftrongeft 
fortifications of a city are the valour and courage of 
its defenders. The fiege was held out fo long, and 
attended with fuch fufprifing difficulties, as would 
have difcouraged any warrior but an Alexander 5 yet 
his troops were animated by the view of dangers, and 
their patience was at laft fuccefsful. Memnon finding 
itimpofiibleforhimtohold out any longer, was forced 
to abandon the city. As the fea was open to him, af- 
ter having put a ffrong garrifon into the citadel ^which 
was well ftored with provifions, he took with him the 
furyiving inhabitants, with all their riches, and con- 
i "them- into the ifland of Cos, which was not 

far 



44 THE LIFE OF A1EXANWR, 






far from Halicarnafifus. Alexander did not thircfe 
proper to befiege the citadel, it being of little im- 
portance after the city was deftroyed, which he de- 
molifhed to the very foundations. He left it, after 
having encompafTed it with ftrong walls, and left 
fome good troops in the country. 

After the death of Artemifia, queen of Caria r < 
Idrieus her brother reigned in her dead. Thefcep- 
rre devolved upon Ada, filler and wife of Idrieus, 
according to the cuftom of the country ; but fhe 
was dethroned by Pexodorus, to whom fucceeded by 
Darius* command, Orontobates, his fon in law, 
Ada, was however ftill pofFefTed of a fortrefs called 
Alinda, the keys of which fhe had carried to Alexan- 
der, the infiant file heard of his arrival in Caria, 
and had adopted him for her fon. The king was fo- 
far from contemning this honour, that he left her the 
quiet pofTefilon of her own city ; and, after having taken 
Halicarnafifus, as he by that means was matter of 
the whole country, he reftored 4 the government of it 
to Ada. 

This lady, as a teftimony of the deep fenfe fhe 
had of the favours received from Alexander, fent 
hipr every day meats dreffed in the mofl exquifne 
manner ; delicious pies of all forts, and the moft ex- 
cellent cooks of every kind. Alexander anfwered 
the queen on this occafion — <c That all this train- 
" was of no fervice to him, for that he was porTefied 
" of much better cooks, whom Leonidas his go- 
«* vernor had given him ; one of whom prepared 
" him a good dinner, and that was by walking a 
cf ^reat deal in the morning very early ; and the 
M other prepared him an excellent fupper, and that 
u was dining very moderately," 

Several 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 45 

♦ Several kings of Afia-Minor lubmitted volunta- 
rily to Alexander. Mithridates king of Pontus was 
one of thefe, who afterwards adhered to this prince, 
and followed him in his expeditions. He was fori 
to Ariobarzanes, governor of Phrygia, and king of 
Pontus. He is computed to be the fixteench king 
from Artabazus, who is confidered as the founder of 
this kingdom, of which he was put in poiTefllon by 
Darius. Alexander, before he went into winter 
quarrers, permitted all fuch of his foldiers, as had 
married that year, to return into Macedonia, there 
to fpend the winter with their wives, upon condition 
that they would return in the fpring. He appointed 
three officers to march with them thither and back 
again. 

The next year Alexander began the campaign 
very early. He had debated, whether it would be 
proper for him to march directly againft Darius, or 
ihould firft fubdue the reft of the maritime provinces. 
The latter opinion appeared the fafeft, fince he 
thereby w ? ould not be molefted by fuch nations as he 
fh(,tdd leave behind him. Thisprogrefs was a little 
interrupted at firft. Near Phafelis, a city fituated 
between Lycia and Pamphylia, is a defile along the 
fea more, which is always dry at low water, fo that 
travellers may pafs it at that time j but when the fea 
riles, it is all under water. As it was now winter, 
Alexander, whom nothing could daunt, was defirous 
of palling it before the waters felL His forces were, 
therefore obliged to march a whole day in the water, 
which came up to their waift. Some hiftorlans, 
purely to embellifh this incident, relate that the fea, 
by the divine command, had fubmitted fpontaneoufly 
to Alexander^ and had opened away to him, con-' 
*D 3 trary 



4& THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

trary to the ufual courfe of nature ; among thefo 
writers is Quintus Curtius ; but the falfity of this, 
Alexander himfelf has refuted. For Pluta/ch re- 
lates, that he wrote ttrly as follows in one of his let- 
ters, That when he left the city of Phafelis, he 
marched on foot through the pals of the mountain 
called Climax : and it is very well known, that this 
prince, who was vaftly fond of the marvellous, never 
let flip any opportunity of perfuading the people, 
that the gods protected him in a very lingular man- 
ner. 

During his being in the neighbourhood of Pha- 
felis, he difcovered a confpiracy which was carrying 
on by Alexander, ion of Eropus, whom he had a little 
before appointed general of the ThefTalian cavalry, ., 
in the room of Calas, whom he had made governor 
of a province. Darius, upon the receipt of a letter 
which this traitor had fen t him, prom i fed him ^reward 
of a thoufand * talents of gold with the kingdom 
of Macedonia, in cafe*he could murder Alexander ; 
believing this was not paying too dear for a crime, 
which would rid him of fb formidable an enemy. 
The merTenger who carried the kings* anfwer being 
feized, made a full confeffion, by which means the 
traitor was brought to condign punifhment. 

Alexander after having fettled affairs in Cilicia and 
Pamphylia, marched nis army to Celasrrae, a city of 
Phrygia, watered by the river Marfyas, which the 
fiction of the poets have made fo famous. He fum- 
moned the garrifon of the citadel, whither the inha- 
bitants were retired, to furrender; but thefe believ- 
ing it impregnable, anfwered haughtily, that they 
would firft die. However, finding the attack car- 
ried^ 

• About out million five hundred tfou/und founds flirting. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

ried on with great vigour, they defired a truce oi 
fixty days, at the expiration of which they promifM 
to open their gates, in cafe they were not fuccoured : 
and accordingly no aid arriving, they furrendered 
themfelves upon the day fixed. 

From thence the king marched into Phrygia, the 
capital of which was called Gordion, the ancient and 
famous refidence of king Midas, fitnatcd on the ri- 
ver Sangarius. Having taken the city, he was defi- 
rous of feeing the famous chariot to which the Gor- 
dian knot was tied. This knot, which failened the 
yoke to the beam, was tied with fo much art., and 
the firings were twilled in fo wonderful a manner, 
that it was impofiible to difcover where it begun or 
ended. According to an ancient tradition of the 
country, an oracle had foretold, that the man who 
-could untie it mould pofTefs the empire of Alia. 
Now Alexander was firmly perfuaded this promife 
related to himfelf ; after many fruitlefs trials, he 
cried, it is no matter which way it be untied, and 
thereupon cut it with his fword, and by that means, 
either eluded or fulfilled the oracle. * 

In the mean time Darius was fetting every engine 
at work, in order to make a vigorous defence. Mem- 
non the Rhodian advifed him to carry the war into 
Macedonia. Which council feemed the mofl pro- 
per to extricate him from the *prefent danger ; for 
the Lacedaemonians, and feveral other Greek nations, 
who had no aiTeclion for the Macedonians, would have 
been ready to join him ; by which means Alexander 
rnufl: have been forced to leave Afia, and return fud- 
deniy over fea, to defend his own country. Darius 
approved this counfel, and, having determined to 
follow it, charged Memnon to put it into execution. 

Accordingly 



4^ THE LIFE QF ALEXANDER.- 

Accordingly he was declared admiral of the fleet, 
arid captain-general of all the forces dcfigned for that 
expedition. 

That prince could not poffibly have made abetter 
choice. Memnon was the ableft general in his fer- 
vice, and had fought a great many years under the 
Perfian ftandards with the utmoft fidelity. Had 
his advice been taken, the battle of Granicus had not 
been fought. He did not abandon his matters' in- 
terefts after that misfortune, but had afiembled the 
fcattered remains of the army, and immediately went 
flrft to Miletus, from thence to Halicarnaflus, and 
laftly into the ifland of Cos, where he was when he 
received his new commifiion. This place was the 
rendezvous of the fleet ; and Memnon was now me- 
ditating wholly upon the manner how to put his defign 
in execution. He made himfelfm after of the ifland of 
Chios, and all Lefbos, the city of Mitilene excepted. 
From thence he was preparing to pafs over into Eu- 
bcea, and to make Greece and Macedonia the feat of 
the war, but died before Mitylene, which city he had 
been forced to befiege. The lofs of Memnon fruf- 
trated the execution of the plan he had formed ; for 
Darius not having one general in his army who was 
able to fupply Memnon's place, abandoned entirely 
the only enterprife which could have faved his em- 
pire. His whole refuge, therefore, now lay in the 
armies of the Eaft. Darius, diflTatisfied with all his 
generals, refolved to command in perfon, and ap- 
pointed Babylon for the rendezvous of his army ; 
whereupon being muftered, they were found to be 
about four, five, or fix hundred thoufand men, for 
hiftorians differ very much on this head. 

Alexander 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 49 

Alexander having left Gordion, marched into 
Paphlagonia and Cappadocia, which he fubdued. 
It was there he heard of Memnon's death, the news 
whereof con firmed him in the reiblutionhe had taken, 
of marching immediately into the provinces of Up- 
per Afia, Accordingly he advanced by hafty marches 
into Cilicia, and arrived into the country called Cy- 
rus* camp. From thence Alexander marched his 
whole army to the city of Tarfus, where it arrived the 
inftant the Perfians were fetting fire to that place, to 
prevent his plundering the great riches offoflou- 
rifhing a city. But Parmenio, whom the king 
had fent thither with a detachment of horfe, 
arrived very feafonably to ilop the progrefs of 
the fire, and marched into the city, which he faved ; 
the Barbarians having fled the moment they heard of 
his arrival. 

Through this city the Cydnus runs, a river re- 
markable for the beauty of its waters, which are vaftly 
limpid ; but at the fame time excefllvely cold, be- 
caufe of the tufted trees with which its banks arc 
over- fh ado wed. It was now about the end of fum- 
mer, which is exceilively hot in Cilicia, and in the 
hotted part of the day, when the king, who was quite 
covered with fweat and dirt, arriving on its banks., 
had a mind to bathe in that river, invited by the 
beauty and clear nefs of the dream. However, the 
inftant he plunged into it, he was feized with fo vio- 
lent a fhivering, that all the (landers- by fancied he 
was dying. Upon this he was carried to his tent, 
after fainting away. The news of this fad difafter 
threw the whole army into the utmoil condensation. 

At la.il the king recovered his fenfes by 'degrees, 
;n to know the perfons who flood round 
E him i 



£0 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

him ; but he was more indifpofed in mind than 
body, for news was brought that Darius might foon 
arrive. Alexander bewailed perpetually his hard fare, 
in being thus expofed naked and defencelefs to his ene- 
my, r nd robbed of fo noble a victory, fin ce be was now 
reduced to the melancholy condition of dying obfeu re- 
ly in his tent, and far from having attained the glory 
he had prcmifed himfelf. Having ordered, his con- 
fidents and phyficians to come into his tent ** You fee 
" (fays he) my friends, the fad extremity to which 
iC fortune reduces me, Methinks I already hear the 
(C found of the enemy's amis, and fee Darius advan- 
tc cing. He undoubtedly held intelligence with my 
u evil genius * when he wrote letters to his Heme- 
C€ nants in To lofty and contemptous a drain ; how- 
c * ever, he ill all not obtain his defire, provided fuch 
cc a cure as I want is attempted. The prefent con- 
iC dition of my affairs will not admit of flow reme- 
c< dies or fearful phyficians. A fpeedy death is 
" more eligible to me than a -.flow- -cure. In cafe the 
6< phyficians think to do me any good, they are to 
ct know that I do not fo much wifh to live as to 
« fight." 

This fodden impatience of the king ipread an uni- 
verfal akrm. The phyficians, who were fen fib Le 
they fhould be anfwerable for the event, did not dare 
to hazard violent and extraordinary remedies ; ef- 
pecially as Darius had publifhed, that he would re- 
ward with a thoufand talents (about 145,000!. (ler- 
ling) the man who fhould kill Alexander. How- 
ever 

* Dart x^tto imagiusd himfelf furs of overturning dhxandfr, 
bad >7-vi 'it to hii lieutenant; , that t, a chaf-ijz thts y-unp J • 

at>u o r :er clothing him in pn*-ptt out of derifitn , jb*uld lliui h 
band and /tot to the court, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, £1 

ever, Philip an Arcanian, one of his phyficians, who 
had always attended upon him from his youth, 
loved him with the utnrolt tendernefs, not only as 
his fovereign but his child ; raifmg himfei'f (merely 
out of afft&ion to Alexander) above all prudential 
confiderations,. offered to give him a dofe ; which, 
though noc very violent, would neverthelefs be fpee- 
dy in its efrecls ; and delired three days to prepare 
At this pr >pofa! every one trembled, but him on!/ 
whom-itmod concerned ; Alexander being -afflicted 
upon no other account, than becaufe it would keep 
him three days from appearing at the head of his 
army. 

WhilS thefe things were doing, Alexander receiv- 
ed a letter from Parmenio, who was left behind in 
Capadocia,, in whom- Alexander put greater confi- 
dence than in any other of his courtiers ; the pur- 
port of which was, to bid him beware of Philip, to: 
that Darius had bribed him, by the promife of a the 
fand talents, and his filter m marriage. This 
gave him great uneafmefs, for he was now at full lei 
{^rc to weigh all the reafons he might have to hop#_ 
or to fear.. But the confidence in a phyficlan, wh 
fincere attachment and fidelity he had proved fro 
his infancy, foon prevailed,, and removed dl 
doubts. Upon this, he folded up the leiter, : 
put it under his bolfter, without acquainting any < 
with the contents of it. 

The day being ccme ? Philip enters the tent . 
his medicine, when Alexander taking the letter fn 
under the bolder, gives it Philip to read. At t 
lame time he takes the cup and hAing his eyes on the 
phyfician, fwallows the draught without the k 

;icanon,.or without difcovenng the kail; fufpic.*.. 

or 



52 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

or uncaMnefs. Philip, as he perufed the letter, hac 
fhewed greater figns of indignation than of fear or 
furprife ; and throwing hfmfelf upon the king's bed 
—Royal fir (fays he) your recovery will ibon clear 
me of the guilt of parricide with which I am char- 
ged. The only favour I beg is, that you would be 
eafy in your own mind -, and fu'ffer the draught to 
operate, and not regard the intelligence you have re- 
reived from fer van ts, who indeed have fhewn their 
zeal for your welfare ; which zeal, however, is very 
indifcrcet and unfeafonable. Thefe words did not 
only revive the king, but filled him with hope r i 
joy ; fo taking Philip by the hand, Be yourfelf 
(fays he to him) for I believe you are difquieted 
upon a double account -, firft for my recovery, and 
ieeondiy for your own jollification. 

in the mean time, the phyfic worked fo violently, 
thikt the accidents which attended it, ftrengthened 
V r memo's accufation ; for the king loft his fpeech, 
and was feized with fuch ftrong fainting fits, that he 
had hardly any pulfe left, or the leaft fymptoms of 
life. Philip employed all the powers of phyfic to re- 
cover him, and in every lucid interval, diverted him 
with agreeable fubjecls ; difcourfing one moment 
about his mother and filters, and another about the 
mighty victory which was advancing, with h ifty fteps, 
to crown his pail triumphs. At.laitthe phyfician's 
art having gained the afcendant, and diffufed through 
every vein a fahuary and vivifick virtue ; his mind 
began to refume its former vigour, and afterwards 
his body, much fooner thn had been expecled. 
Three days after he (hewed himfelf to the armv, who 
were never fatisfted with gazing upon hi n, and coulri 
fcarce believe their eyes 5 fo much the greataefs 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 5J 

of the danger had furprifed and dejected them. No 
carefles were enough for the phylician ; every one 
embracing him with the utmoft tendernefs, and re- 
turning him thanks as a God who had faved the life 
of their fovereign. 

During this interval, Darius was on his march, 
full of a vain fecurity in the infinite number of his 
troops, and forming a judgment of the two armies 
merely from their difparity in that point. The 
plains of AlTyria^ in which he was encamped, gave 
him an opportunity of extending his horfe as he pita- 
fed, and of taking the advantage which the great 
difference between the number of foldiers in each 
army gave him ; but in (lead of this, he refoives to 
march to narrow pafTes, where his cavalry and the 
multitude of his troops, fo far from doing him any 
fervice, would only incumber one another ,* and ac- 
cordingly he advances towards the enemy, for whom, 
he fhould have waited,, and runs vifibly to his owu 
deftruction. Neverthelefs, the grandees of his c&urr* 
whofe cuftom it was to flatter and applaud his eve;/ 
action, congratulated him beforehand on the victory 
he would foon obtain, as if it had been certain and 
inevitable. There was at that time, in the army of 
Darius, one Caridemus, an Athenian, a man of great 
experience in war, who perfona ly hated Alexander, 
for having caufed him to be banifhed from Athens, 
Darius turning to this Athenian, afked, whether he 
believed him powerful enough to defeat his enemy, 
Caridemus, who had been brought up in the bofom 
of liberty, and forgetting that he was in a country of 
ihvery, where to oppofe the inclinations of a prince 
is of the molt dangerous conference, replied as fol- 
• " Poflibly, fir, you may not be pleaie.l with 
E % * " rav 



THE LIFE OF ALF-XANDESfc, 



tc my telling you the truth - 3 but in cafe I do sot do> 
<c it; riO\v,.itw 11 be too late hereafter. This mighty 
* c parade of war, this prodigious number of men 
fc which has drained all the eall,. might indeed be 
ux formidable to your neighbours,. Gold and pur* 
** pie fliine in every psrt of your army, which is fo> 
£f prodigioiiily fplendid^ that thofe who have noL 
u (ten \x, could never form an idea of ks magnifi- 
Cf cence, But the foldiers who compofe the Ma" e- 
" donian army, terrible to behold, and briftlin in 
ic every part with arms, do not amufe their ?s 
tc with fuch idle ihow. Their only care is to difci- 
ft pline, in a regular manner, their battalions,, and to> 
ff cover themfelves clofe with their bucklers and. 
<f pikes.. Their phalanx is a body of infantry,which, 
* c engages without fimching -,. and keeps fo clofe in 
" their ranks, th t the foldiers and their arms form & 
• c kind of impenetrable work. In a word, every fin- 
tc He man among them, the officers as well foldiers,. 
'< ;.v; to well trained up, fo attentive to the com- 
" mand of tjieir leaders, that whither they are to ai- 
4C femble under their standards, to turn to the right 
JC or left, to double their ranks, and face about to the 
* c enemy on all fides,, at the lea ft fignal they make 
c< " every motion and evolution of the art of war. 
u But that you may be per.fiiaded, thefe Macedoni- 

:z invited hither,, from the hopesof gain- 
ed filver; know, that this excellent dif- 
:b lifted hitherto by the fole aid and 

of poverty. Are they hungry ? they fa- 
<k ti.sfy their appetite with any kind of food* Are 
* i hey weary i they repofe themfelves on the bare 
f< ground, and in the day time are always upon their 
v< teet. Do you fancy thai die Theflkiian cava 

and 






THE LIFE, OF ALEXANDER. j(f 

u and that of Acamania and JEtolh, who all are 
" anned cap-a-pee, are to be repulfed by (tones 
u hurled from flings, and with flicks burnt at the 
" ends ? fuch troops as are like tfiemfelves, will be 
" able to check their career r and fuccours mud be 
* procured from their country,,. to oppofe their bra- 
" very and experience. Send therefore thither al! 
" the ufelefs gold and f liver which I fee heie, and 
" purchafe formidable loldiers." But Darius, not 
having ftrength of mind fuEcient for this, gives orders 
lor dragging to execution a man who had fled to him 
for protection, was at that time his guztt, and gave 
him at that time the bell counfel that could have 
been propofed to him. However, as this cruel, treat- 
ment could not filence C?ridemuv he cried aloud, 
with his ufual freedom ; "My avenger is at hand, 
M the very man in oppofition, to whom I gave you 
" council„and he will icon puniih- you for defpifing 
u it. As for you, Darius,, in whom fovereign pow- 
** er has wrought ib fudden a change, you will teach 
" pofterity, that when once men abandon themfclv.s 
c * to the deluQon of fortune, ihe erafes from their 
iX minds all the feeds of goodnefs implanted in them 
" by nature." Darius foon repented his having put 
to death fb valuable a perfon ; and experienced, but 
too late, the truth of all he had tokl him.. 

The king advanced with his troops towards the 
Euphrates, It was a cuftom long ufed by the Per- 
fians, never to fet out upon a march til after funrife, 
at which time the trumpet was founded for that pur- 
pofe from the king's tent. Over this tent was ex- 
hibited to the view of the whole army, the image of 
fun let incryftal. The order they obferved in 
; r maieh was ihis*. 

- Firft, 



$6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Firft, they carried filver altars, on which there lay 
fire, called by them facred and eternal -, and thefe 
were followed by the Magi, fmging hvmns after the 
manner of their country. They were accompanied 
by three hundred and fixty- five youths (agreeable to 
the number of days in a year) clothed in purple 
robes. Afterwards came a chariot confecrated to 
Jupiter, drawn by white horfes, and followed ' y a 
courfer of a prodigious fize, to whom they g' the 
name of the fun's horfe -, and the equerr' . ?ere 
drefled in white, each having a golden rod in his 
hand. 

Ten chariots, adorned with feulptures in gold and 
filver, followed after. Then marched a body of 
horfe compofed of twelve nations, whofe manners and 
cuftoms were various, and all armed in a different 
manner. Next advanced thofe whom the Perfians 
called the immortals* amounting to ten thoufand,. 
who furpafifed the reft of the Barbarians in the 
furnptuoufnefs of their apparel. They all wore 
golden collars, were clothed in robes of gold tiffue,, 
with furtouts (having flee ves to them) quite covered 
with precious ftories. 

Thirty paces from them, followed thofe called 
the kings coufins or * relations, to the number of 
fifteen thoufand, in habits refembling very much 
thofe of women, and more remarkable for the vain 
pomp of their drefs than the glitter of their arms.. 

Thofe called the Doryphori (thefe were guards 
who carried half a pike) came after ; they carried the 
kings cloak, and walked before his chariot, in which 
he feemed tafit as on a high throne. This chariot was 

enriched 

• This ivat a title of dignity* Pojibly a great number % 
kiigt re'attofit were in tbu bod}* 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. J7 

enriched on both fides with images of all the gods in 
gold and filver ; and from the middle of the yoke, 
which was covered with jewels, rofe two flatues a 
cubit in heighr, the one reprcfenting war, the other 
peace, having a golden eagle between them, with 
wings extended, as ready to take its' flight. 

But nothing could equal the magnificence of the 

. He was clothed in a veft of purple, ftriped 

filver, and over it a long robe glittering all over 

■ un gold and precious (tones, that reprefenced two 

falcons rufhing from the clouds, and pecking at one 

another. Around his wairl: he wore a golden girdle, 

the manner of women, whence his fcymitar 

hung, the fcabbard of which flamed all over with 

gems, on his head he wore a tiara or mitre, round 

which was a fillet of blue mixed with white. 

On each fide of him walked two hundred of his 
nearcft relations, followed by ten thoufand pikemen, 
whofe pikes were adorned with filver, and tipped with 
gold ; and laftly, thirty thoufand infantry, who compo- 
fed the rear- guard. Thefe were followed by the kings 
horfes (four hundred in number) all which were led. 

About one hundred and twenty paces from thence, 
came Syfigambis, Darius's mother, feated on a chari- 
ot, and his confort on another, with the feverai fe- 
male attendants of both queens riding on horfeback. 
Afterwards came fifteen large chariots,, in which 
were the king's children, and thofe who had the care 
of their education, with a band of eunuchs, w&o are 
to this day in great efteem with thofe nations. Then 
marched the concubines, to the number of three 
hundred and fixty, in the equipage of queens, follow- 
ed by fix hundred mules, and three hundred camels, 
which carried the kings treafure, and were guarded by 
a body of archers. E3 After 



5$ THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

After thefe came the w'ves of the crown-officers, 
andof^the greatest lords of the court; then the iut- 
lers, and fervants of the army, feated alfo in chariots. 

In the rear were a body of light-armed troops, 
w/th their commanders, who doled the whole march. 

Would rot the reader believe he had been reading 
the defcription of a tournament, not the march of 
an army ? could he imagine that princes of the lead 
reafon would have been fo ftupid, as to incorporate 
with their forces fo cumberfbme a train of women, 
princefles, concubines, eunuchs, and domefticks of 
both fexes. But the cuftom-of the country was 
reafon fufficieat for Darius., 



Sect. V. Alexander gains a famous*, vifiory over "Da- 
rius, near the city of IJus. The conferences of that 
' viffory. 

(f) For the clearer underftanding of Alexander's, 
march, and that of Darius, and the better fixing the 
fkuation of the fpot where the fecond battle was 
fought, we muft diftinguifh three ftraits or paries. 
The firft of thefe is immediately at the defcent from 
mount Taurus, in the way to the city of Tarfus, 
through which Alexander marched from Cappadocia 
into Cilicia. Thefecond is the pafsof CiliciaorSyria,.. 
leading from Cihcia^into Syria ; and the third is che 
pafs of Amanus, fo called from thax mountain. 
This pafs, which leads into Cilicia from' Ally ria, is 
much higher than the pafs of Syria, northward. 

Ak' d 

f/J A. M. 3672. Ant. y. C. 333. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 59 

Alexander had detached Parmenio with part of 
the army to feize the pafs of Syria, in order to fecure 
it for his march. As for himfelf, after marching 
from Tarfus, he arrived the next day at Anchiala, a 
city which Snrdinapalus is faid to have built. His 
tomb was ftill to be ken in that city with this inferip- 
lion, Sardanapalus built Anchiala and Tarfus in one 
day : Go paffenger, eat, drink, and rejoice, for the 
reft is nothing. From hence he came to Solos 
where he offered facrinces to iEfcul'apius, in grati- 
tude for the recovery of his health. Alexander 
hlmfclf headed the ceremony v/ith lighted tapers, 
followed by the whole army, and he there fclemnized 
games ; after which he returned to Tarfus. Having 
commanded Philotas to march the cavalry through 
the plains of Aldus, towards the river Pyramus, he 
himfelf went with the infantry and his life-guard to 
Magarfus, whence he arrived at Malles, and after- 
wards at'Caftabala. Advice had been brought him, 
that Darius, with his whole army, was encamped at 
Sochus in AfTyria, two days journey from Ciiicia. 
There Alexander held a council of war upon that 
news ; when all his generals and officers entreating 
him to march towards Darius, <he fet out the next 
day to give him battle. Parmenio had taken the 
little city of I fibs, and, after poffeffing himfelf of the 
pais of Syria, had left a body of forces to fecure it. 
jT he king left the fick in IfTus, marched his whole 
army through the pafs, and encamped near the city 
■of Myriandrus, where the badnefs of the weather 
i obliged fain to halt. 

j In the mean time, Darius was in the pi air 
lAffyna, of great extent. The Grecian commanders 
e in his fervice, and formed the chief lire tigth 

of 

• 
1 



£>0 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

of his army, advifed him to wait there the coming- 
up of the enemy. For, befides that this fpot was 
open on all fides, and very advantageous for his 
horfe, it was fpacious enough to contain his vaftly 
numerous hoft, with all the baggage and other 
things belonging to the army. However, if he 
fhould not approve of their council, they then advi- 
fed him to feparate this multitude, and felect fuch, 
only as were the flower of his troops ; and confe- 
quently not venture his whole army upon a fingle 
battle, which perhaps might be decifive. However, 
the courtiers, with whom the courts of monarchs 
forever abound, called thefe Greeks an unfaithful' 
nation, and venal wretches ; and hinted to Darius, 
that the only motive of their counfelling the king 
to divide his troops was, that, after they fhould once 
be feparated from the reft, they might hare an eafier 
opportunity of delivering up into the enemies hands 
whatever might be in their power ; but that the fafeft 
way would be, to furround them with the whole 
army, and cut them to pieces, as an illuftrious exam- 
ple of the punifhment due to traitors. This propo- 
sal was vaftiy mocking to Darius, who was naruraily 
of a mild and humane difpofition. He therefore 
anfwered. " That he was far from ever defigning 
" to commit fo horrible a crime ; that fhould he be 
<f guilty of it, no nation would afterwards give the 
" leaft credit to his promifes ; that no man would 
*' ever venture to give his opinion, if it were attend- 
" ed with fuch danger, a circumftance that would 
" be of the mod fatal confequences to princes. " 
He then thanked the (keeks for their d L,ood 

v ill, ar:d condefcended to lay before ch; reafcm 

which prompted him not to follow their ad 

Da; 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 6l 

Darius, having fent histreafure with hismoft pre- 
cious moveables to Damafcus, a city of Syria, under 
a fmall convoy, marched the main body of his army 
towards Cilicia, and entered it bv the pafs of Ama- 
nus, which lies far above the pafTes of Syria. His 
queen and mother, with the princeffes his daughters, 
and the little prince his Ton, followed the army ac- 
cording to the cuftom of the Perfnns, but were in 
the camp during the battle. h\ When he had advanced 
a little way into Cilicia (from eaft, weftward) he 
turned fhort towards IfTus, not knowing that Alex- 
ander was behind; fo-r he had been afTured that this 
prince fled before him, and was retired in great dif- 
order into Syria -, and therefore Darius was now 
confidering how he might bell purfue him. He bar- 
baroufly put to death all the fick who were then in 
the city of IfTus, a few foldiers excepted, whom he 
difmifTed, after making them view every part of his 
camp, in order that they might be fpe&ators of the 
prodigious multitude of his forces. Thefe foldiers 
accordingly brought Alexander word of Darius' ap- 
proach, which he could fcarcely believe, from its 
great improbability, though there was nothing he de- 
fired more earneftly. But he himfelfwas foon an eye- 
witnefs to the truth of it, upon which he began to 
think ferioufly of preparing for battle. 

Alexander fearing, as the Barbarians were fo nu- 
merous, that they would attack him in his camp, for- 
tified it with ditches and palifadoes, difcovering aa 
incredible joy to fee his defire fulfilled, which was, 
to engage in thofe pafTes ; and indeed, this fpot of 
ground, which was but wide enough for a fmall 
army to act and move at liberty in, reduced, in fome 
fibfeafure, the two armies to an equality. By this 
F means 



Si THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

means the Macedonians had fpace fufficient to em- 
ploy their whole army, whereas the Perfians had not 
room for the twentieth part of theirs. 

Neverthelefs, Alexander felt fome emotion when 
he law that he was going to hazard all at one blow. 
The more fortune had favoured him hitherto, the 
more he now dreaded her frowns -, the moment ap- 
proaching which was to determine his fate; but al- 
though he was. uncertain with regard to the vu&ory, 
he at leaft hoped to die glorioufly, and like Alexan- 
der ; he was alio determined his troops fhould read 
nothing but intrepidity in the countenance of their 
commander. 

Having made his foidiers refrefh themfelves, and" 
ordered them to be ready for the third watch of the 
night, which began at twelve, he went to the top of 
a mountain, and there, by torch-light, facrificed af- 
ter the manner of his country, to the gods of the 
place. As foon as the fignal was given, his army, 
which was ready to march and fight, being comrmnd- 
ed to make greater fpeed, arrived by day- break a£ 
the feveral pofts afTigned them, but now the couriers 
bringing word that Darius was not above thirty 
furlongs from them, the king caufed his army to 
halt, and then drew it up in. battle array. The pea- 
fants in the greatcft terror camealfo and acquainted 
Darius with the arrival of the enemy, which he could 
not at firft believe, imagining, as we have obferved, 
that Alexander fled before him, and endeavoured to 
efcape. This news threw his* troops into the utmoft 
confufion, who in that furprize ran to their arms with 
great precipitation and diforder. 

The fpot where the battle was fought lay near the 
city of Ifius, which the mountains bounded on 

one 



THE LITE OF ALEXANDER, 63 

ane fide, and the Tea on the other. The plain that 
was fuuated between them both mud have been con- 
siderably broad, as the two armies encamped in it ; 
and that of Darius* was vaftly numerous. The river 
Pinarius ran through the middle of this plain from 
the mountain to the fea, and divided it very near into 
two equal parts. " The mountain formed a hollow 
like a gulph, the extremity of .which- in a curve line 
bounded part of the plain. 

Alexander drew up his army in the following or- 
der. He pofted at the-extremity of the right wing, 
which flood near the mountains, the Argyrafpides* 
commanded by Nicanor; then the Phalanx of Ccenus, 
and afterwards that of Perdiccas, which terminated 
in the centre of the main army. On the extremity 
of the left wing, he pofted the phalanx- of Amy ntas, 
then that of Ptolemy, and laftly, that of MeJtager. 
Thus the famous Macedonian phalanx was formed, 
which we find was compofed of fix diftincl corps or 
brigades* Each of thefe bodies was headed by abk 
generals ; but Alexander^ being.always generaliffimo, 
had confequently the command of the whole army. 
The horfe were placed, on the two wings -, the Ma- 
cedonians, with the ThciTalians, on the right, a J 
thofe of Peloponnefifus, with the other allies, en ~- - 
left. Craterus commanded all the foot, which t: . - 
poled the left wing, and Parmenio the whole wing. 
Alexander had relerved to himfelf the command of 
the right. He hacldefired Parmenio to keep as 
near the fea as poilible, to prevent the Barbarians 
from furrounding him; and Nicanor, on the contra- 
ry, # was ordered to keep at fome diftance from the 

mountains 

* Tbiswas a body of infantry, Mfinguijbtd by thjr Jilver 
iutidty but much more fo by tbetr gnat brwviry* 



64 THE L If" E OF ALEXANDER, 

mountains,, to keep himfelf out of the reach of tire 
arrows difcharged by thofe who were polled there. 
He covered the horle of his right wing with the light 
horfe of Protomachus and the Pceonians, and his 
foot with tlie bowmen of Antiochus. He referved 
the Agrians (commanded by Attalus) who were 
greatly efteemed, and fome forces that were newly 
arrived from Greece, to oppofe thofe Darius had 
potted on the mountains. 

As for Darius's army, it was drawn up in the fol- 
lowing order. Having her.rd that Alexander was 
marching towards him in battle array, he command- 
ed thirty thoufand horfe, and twenty thoufand bow- 
men to crofs the river Pinarius, that he might have 
fcn opportunity to draw up his army in a commodious 
manner on the hither fide. In the centre he polled the 
thirty thoufand Greeks in his fervice,, who, doubtlefs, 
•v\ vrc the flower and chief (Irength of his army, and not 
<tdl inferior in bravery to tta Macedonian phalanx, 
v»:m thirty thoufand Cardacians on their right, and 
as many on their left ; the Meld of battle not being 
able t& contain a greater number. 

TJx/e yp-ifFe all heavily armed. The reft of the 
infantry, dillinguifhed by their feveral nations, were 
titfrged behind the firft line. On the mountain 
which lay to their left, againft Alexander's right wing, 
Darius p tied twenty thoufand men, who were ib 
ranged (in feveral windings of the mountain) that 
fome were behind Alexander's army, and others be- 
fore it. 

Darius, after having fet his army in battle array, 
made his horfe crofs the river again, and difpatched 
the greater* part of them -towards the fea againft 
Parrnenio, becaufe they could fight on that fpot with 

the 



Ttit LIFE OV ALEXANDER. 6$ 

the greateft: advantage : the red of his cavalry he 
fent to the left, towards the mountain. However, 
finding that thefe would be of no ferviee on that fide, 
becaufe of the too great narrownefs of the fpot, he 
caufed a great part of them to wheel about to the 
right. - As for himfelf, he took -his poft in the centre 
of his army, purfuant- to the cuftom of the Perfian 
monarchs. 

Alexander, obferving that- moft of the enemy's 
hbrfe was to oppofe his left wing, which confifted 
only of thofe of Poioponefitis, and fome other allies, 
detached immediately to it the TheiTahan cavalry, 
which he caufed to wheel round behind his batta- 
lions, to prevent their being (em by the Barbarians. 
On the fame fide (to the left) he pofted, before his 
foot, the Cretan bowmen, and the Thrafians of Sital- 
ces (a king of Thrace) who were covered by the 
horfe. The foreigners in his ferviee were behind all 
the reft. 

Perceiving that his right wing did not extend fo 
far as the left of the Peril arts, which might furround 
and attack -it in flank, he drew from the centre of his 
army two regiments of foot, which he detached thith- 
er, with orders for them to march behind to prevent 
their being feen by the enemy, He alio reinforced 
that wing^of his forces which he had oppofed to the 
Barbarians on the mountains ; for, feeing they did 
not come down, he made the Agrians and lome 
other bowmen attack them, and drive them towards 
the fummit of it ; fo that he left only three hundred 
horfe to keep them in, and fent the reft, as I obferved, 
to reinforce his right wing, which by this means ex- 
tended farther than that of the Perfians. 

The 
F 2 



€& THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER-* 

The two armies being thus drawn up in order of 
.battle, Alexander marched very (lowly, that his fold- 
iers might take a little breath; fo that it was fup- 
pofed they would not engage till very late :• for Da- 
rius frill continued with his army on the other fide 
of the rivsr, in order not to lofe the advantageous 
fituation of his poft $ and even caufed fuch parts, 
of the more as were not craggy to be fecured with 
palifadoes, whence the Macedonians concluded that 
he was already afraid of being defeated, the two ar- 
mies being come in fight. Alexander, riding along, 
the ranks, called, by their feveral names, the princi- 
pal officers both of the Macedonians and foreigners ;, 
exhorted the foldiers to Cgualize themfdves, (peak- 
ing to each nation according to its peculiar genius, 
and difpofition. To the Macedonians he reprefent- 
ed, " victories they had formerly gained in Europe;, 
" the fblJ recent glory of trie battle of the Granicus ?, 
" the great number of cities and provinces they had 
"left behind them, all which they had fubdued." 5 
He added, that " by one fingle victory they would 
ct pofTcfs thernfelves of the Perfian empire; and that 
i: the fpoils of the Eaft would be the reward of their 
" bravery and toils." The Greeks he animated,, 
" by the remembrance of the many calamities which, 
" the Perfians (rhofe irreconcileable enemies to* 
" Greece) had brought upon them ;." and fet be- 
M fore them, ihe famous battle of Marathon, o€ 
" Thermopylae, of Salamis, of Platae^c, and the many. 
c< others by which they had required immortal glo- 
<c ry."' He bid the Illyrians and Thracians, nations 
who ufed to i'ubfiflb by plunder and rapine, " view. 
" the enemies army, every part of which fhonewith* 
" gold and purple, and was not loaded fo much with, 

u anna 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 6 J 

** arms as with booty. That they therefore fhould 
cc pufh forward (they who were men) and drip all 
•* thole women of their ornaments ; and exchange 
" their mountains, covered perpetually with ice and 
" fnow, for the f mi ling plains and rich fields of 
" Perfia." The moment he had ended, the whole 
army fet up a fhout, and. eagerly defired to be led on 
directly againft the enemy > 

Alexander had advanced at firft very fiowly, to 
prevent the ranks, of the front of his phalanx, from 
breaking, and halted by intervals : but when- he was 
got within bow-mor,. he commanded all his right 
(wing) to plunge impetuoufl.y into the river, pur- 
pofely that they might furprife the Barbarians, come 
looner to a clofe engagement,, and be lefs expofed to 
the enemy's arrows y in all which he was very fuccers- 
ful. Both fides fought with the utmoft bravery and 
refolution ; and being now forced to fight clofe, 
they charged on both fides fword in hand,' when a 
dreadful flaughteFenfiied; for they engaged man to 
man, each aiming the point of his fword at the face 
©f his opponent. Alexander, who performed the 
duty both of a private foldier and of a commander, 
wiihed nothing fo ardently as the glory of killing, 
with his own hand, Darius, who being feated on a 
high chariot, was confpicuous to the whole army ; 
and by that means was a powerful object, both to 
encourage his own foldiers to defend, and the enemy 
to attack him. And now the battle grew more furi- 
ous and bloody than before ; fo that a great number 
of Periian noblemen were killed. Each fide fought 
with incredible bravery. Oxatres, brother to Darius, 
©bferving that Alexander was going to Charge that 
monarch with the utmoft vigour, rufhed before his 

chariot 



6S : THE LISS OF ALEXANDX^- 

chariot with the horfe under his command, diftin 
guifhed himfelf above all the reft. The horfes th 
drew Darius's chariot, being quite covered with 
wounds, began to prance about ; and {hook the yoke 
fo violently, that they were upon the point of over- 
turning the king, who, feeing himfelf going to fall 
alive into the hands of his enemies, leaped down* 
and mounted another chariot. The reft obferving 
this, fled as faft as poflible, and throwing down their 
arms, made the bed of their way. Alexander had 
rcceiyed a- flight wound in his thigh, but happi- 
ly it was not attended with ill confequences. 

Whilft part of the Macedonian infantry (polled 
to the right) were carrying on the advantage they 
had gained agatnft the Periians, the remainder of 
them who engaged the Greeks met with greater re- 
fxftance. Thefe obferving that the body of infantry 
in queftion were no longer covered by the right 
(wing) of Alexander's army, which was purfuing the 
enemy, came and attacked it in flank v The engage- 
ment was very bloody,, and victory a long time 
doubtful. The Greeks endeavoured to puiri the 
Macedonians into the river, and to recover the dis- 
order into which the left wing had been thrown. 
The Macedonians alfo fignalized themfelves with 
the utmoft bravery, in order to preferve the advan- 
tage which Alexander had juft before gained, and 
iupport the honour of their phalanx, which had al- 
ways been confidered as invincible. 

There was aHb a perpetual fealoufy between thefe 
two nations (the Greeks and Macedonians) which 
greatly increafed their courage, and made the refift- 
ance on each fide very vigorous. On Alexander's fide 
Ptolemy the fan of Seleucus loft has life, with an hun- 
dred 




THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 69 

dred and twenty more confiderable officers, who all had 
behaved with the utmoft gallantry. 

In the mean time the right wing, which was vic- 
torious under its monarch, after defeating all who 
oppofed ir, wheeled to the left againft thole Greeks 
who were fighting with the reft of the Macedonian 
phalanx, whom they charged very vigorously $ and 
attacking them in flank, entirely routed them. 

At the very beginning of the engagement, the 
Peffian cavalry which was in the right wing (without 
waiting for their being attacked by the Macedonians) 
had crofTed the river, and ruihed upon the ThefTali- 
an horfe, feveral of whofe fquadrons were broke by 
ir. Upon this, the remainder of the latter, in order 
to avoid the impetuofity of the firft charge, and 
oblige the Pernans to break their ranks, made a 
feint of retiring, as terrified by the prodigious num- 
bers of the enemy. The Ferfians feeing this, were 
filled with boldnefs and confidence, and thereupon 
thegreateft part of them advancing without order or 
precaution, as to a certain victory, had no thoughts 
but of purfuing the enemy. Upon this, the ThefTa-- 
lians feeing them in fiich confufion, faced about cri 
a fudden, and renewed the fight with frefh ardour. 
The Perfians made a brave defence, till they faw 
Darius put to flight, and the Greeks cut to pieces by 
the phalanx. 

The routing of the Perfian cavalry completed the 
defeat of the army. The Perfian horfe furTered very 
much in the retreat, from the great weight of the 
arms of their riders ; net to mention, that as they 
retired in diforder ; and crowded in great numbers 
through paries, they bruifed an 1 unhorfed one anoth- 
er, and were more annoyed by their own foldiers than 
F j by 



7© THE LIFE 0? ALEXANDER. 

by the enemy. Befides, the Theffalian cavalry pur- 
fued them with fo much fury, that they were as 
much mattered as the infantry, and loft as many men. 

With regard to Darius, as we before obferved, 
the inftant he faw his left wing broke, he was one of 
*he firft who fled in his chariot ; but getting after- 
wards into craggy rugged places, he mounted on hone- 
back:, throwing down his bow, fhield, and royal man- 
tie. Alexander, however, did not attempt to purfue 
him, till he faw his phalanx had conquered the Greeks, 
and the Perfian horfe put flight ; which was of great 
advantage to the prince that fled. 

About eight thouiand of the Greeks that were in 
Darius's fervice (with their officers at their head, 
who were very brave) retired over the mountains, 
towards Tripoli in Syria, where finding the trans- 
ports which had brought them from Lefbos upon 
dry ground, they fitted out as many of them as fuited 
their purpofe, and burnt the reft, to prevent their 
being purfued. 

x4 s for the Barbarians, having exerted themfelves- 
with bravery enough in the firft attack, they after- 
wards gave way in the mod fhameful manner - ? and, 
being intent upon nothing but faving themfelves 
they took different ways. Some ftruck into the 
high road which led directly ro Perfia ; others ran 
into woods and lonely mountains ; and a fmall 
number returned to their camp, which the victorious 
enemy had already taken and plundered. 

Syfigambis, Darius's mother, and that monarch's 
queen, who alfo was his filter, remained in it, with 
two of the king's daughters, afonofhis (a child) and 
fomc Perfian ladies, For the reft had been carried 
to Damafcus, witnpartof Darius's treafure, and all. 
9 fuch 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 71 

ftch things as contributed only to the luxury and 
magnificence of his court. No more than three 
thoufand talents were found in his camp ; but the 
reft of the treafure fell afterwards into the hands of 
Parmenio, at his taking the city of Damafcus. 

Alexander, weary of purfuing Darius, feeing night 
draw on, and that it would be impofFible for him to 
overtake that monarch, returned to the enemies 
camp* which his foldiers had juir before plundered. 
Such was the end of this memorable battle, * fought 
the fourth year of Alexander's reign. The j- Perfians, 
either in the engagement or the rout, loft a great 
number of their forces, both horfe and foot ; but 
very few were killed on Alexander's fide. 

That very evening he invited the grandees of his 
court, and his chief officers, to a feaft, at which he 
himfelf was prefent, notwithftanding the wound he 
had received, it having only grazed the fkin. But 
they were no fooner fet down at table, than they 
heard, from a neighbouring tent, a great noifc inter- 
mixed with groans, which frighted all the company ; 
inibmuch that the foldiers, who were upon guard be- 
fore the king's tent, run to their arms, being afraid 
of an infurrection. But it was found, that the per- 
fons who made this clamour were the mother and 
wife of Darius, and the reft of the captive ladies, who, 
fuppofing ' that prince dead, bewailed his lofs, ac- 
cording to thecuftom of the Barbarians, with dread- 
ful cries and howlings. An eunuch, who had feen 
Darius's cloak in the hands of a foldier, imagining 

he 

* A. M. 367. Ant. J.C. 332. 

f At cording to £>. Cxrtius and Art an the Perfians loft ioo f OQ+ 
foot and IO.OOO horje. And the former hifiorian relate*, that n* 
more than i$o hor/t and 500/00/, were loji en. Alexander* s fide* 



72 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

he had killed him, and afterwards ftriped him of 
that garment, had carried them that falfe account. 

We are told that Alexander, upon befng told the 
reafon of this falfc alarm, could not refrain from 
tears, when he confidered the fad, calamity of Darius, 
and the tender difpofition of thofe princerles, whom 
his misfortunes only afTe&ed. He thereupon fent 
Leonatus, one of his chief courtiers, to afTure them, 
that the man whofe death they bewailed was alive. 
Leonatus, taking fome foldiers with him, came to 
the tent of the princefles, and fent word, that he was 
come to pay them a vifit in the king's name. The 
perfons, who were at the entrance of the tent, feeing 
a band of armed men, imagined that their miftreffes 
were undone ; and accordingly ran into the tent, 
crying aloud, that their laft hour was come, and that 
foldiers were difpatched to murder them -, fo trut 
thefe princefTes being feized with the ut molt did r ac- 
tion, did not make the lead anfwer, but waited in 
deep filencc for the orders of the conqueror. At 
lad, Leonatus having (laid a long time, and feeing 
no Gne appear, left his foldiers at the door, and came 
into the tent : But their rerrcr increafed, when they 
jaw a man enter among them without being intro- 
duced. They thereupon threw thcmfelves at his 
feet, and intreated, that " before he put them to 
f< death, they might be allowed to bury Darius after 
" the manner of their country ; and that when they 
" had paid this laft duty to their king, they fhould 
" die contented." Leonatus anfwered, " That Da- 
cc rius was living; and that fo far from giving them 
° any offence, they fhould be treated as queens, and 
" live in their former fplendor." Syfigambis heal- 
ing this, began to recover her fpirits, and permitted 

Leonatus 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 73 

Leonatus co give her his hand, to raife her from the 
ground. The next day Alexander, after vifiting the 
wounded, caufed the laft honors to be paid to the dead, 
in prefence of the whole army, drawn up in the mod 
fplendid order of battle. 'Hetre.ucd thePerfiansofdif- 
tinction in the fame manner, and permitted Danus's 
mother to bury whatever perfons fhe pieafed, ac- 
cording to the cuftom and ceremonies praclifed in 
her country. However, this prudent princefs ufed 
that permillion in regard only to a few who were her 
near relations ; and that with fuch a modeftyand re- 
ferve as (lie thought fuited her prefent condition. 
The king teltified his joy and gratitude to the whole 
army, efpecially to the chief officers, whofe actions 
he applauded in the ftrongeft terms ; and he made 
prefents to all, according to their merit and Ration. 
After Alexander had performed thefe feveral du- 
ties, truly worthy a great monarch, he fenta meffageto 
the queens, to inform them that he was coming topay 
them a vifit ■, and accordingly commanding all his 
tr.un to withdraw, he entered the tent, accompanied 
only by Hephceltion. Pie was his favourite, and as 
they had been brought up together, the king reveal- 
ed his fecrets to him, and nobody elfe dared to fpeafc 
fcrfreely to him, but even Hephseftion made fo cau- 
tious and difcreet an ufe of that liberty, thru he feemed 
to take it, not io mucii our of inclination, as from a 
defire to obey the king, who would have it io. They 
were of the fame age, but Hephceftion was taller, 
fo that the queens took him at firft for the king, and 
paid him their refpects as fuch : But fome captive 
eunuchs fhewing them Alexander, Syfigambis fell 
proftrate before hirm, and begged his pardon ; de- 
claring, that- as (he had never feen him, (lie hoped 

G that 



74 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

that confederation would plead her apology. The 
king, raifed her from the ground, " Dear mother, 
(fays he) " you are not miftaken, for he aifo is an 
Alexander:" A fine expreflion which does honour 
to both ! Had Alexander always thought and acted 
in this manner, he would juflly merited the title of 
Great ; but fortune had not yet corrupted his foul. 
He bore her at firft with moderation and wifdom 
but at lad fhe overpowered him, and he became un- 
able to refifl: her. 

Syfigambis, ftrongly affected with thefe teftimonies 
of goodnefs and humanity, could not forbear teftify- 
jng her gratitude upon that accoupt. " Great prince 
ct (faid fhe) what words fhall I find to exprefs my 
< c thanks, in fuch a manner as may anfwer your gen e- 
cc rofity ! You call me your mother, and honour me 
<c (till with the title of queen, whereas I confefs my- 
f< felf your captive. I know what I have been, and 
** what I now am. I know the whole extent of my 
cc paft grandeur, and find I can fupport all the weight 
" of my prefent ill fortune. But it will be glorious 
(< for yon, as you now have an abfolute power over 
" us, to make us feel it by your clemency only, and - 
li not by ill treatment." 

The king after comforting the princeiTes, took 
Darius' fon in his arms. This little child, without 
difcovering the lead terror, embraced Alexander, 
who being affected with his confidence, and turning 
about to Hephseftion, faid to him $ O that Darius 
had had fome portion of this tender difpofition. 

To conclude, lie treated thefe prmceffes with fuch 
humanity, that nothing but the remembrance that 
they were captives, could have made them fenflble 
of their calamity, and of all the advantages they 

podeiTr;! 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 75 

pofTeflfed before, nothing was wanting with regard 
to Alexander, but that truft and confidence, which 
no one can rcpofe in an enemy, how kindly foever 
he behaves. 

Sect, VI. Alexander marches victorious into Syria ; 
the treafures depofted in Damafcus are delivered to 
him, Darius writes a letter to Alexander in the 
moft haughty terms, which he anfwers in the/aim 
flile. The gates of the city of Sidon are opened to him. 
Abdolonymus is placed upon the throne againfi his will. 
Alexander laysjhge to Tyre, which at la/t } after ha- 
ving made a vigorous defence, is taken by form, J he 
fulfilling of the different prophecies relating to Tyre. 

CgJ Alexander fet out towards Syria, after 
having confecrated three alters on the river rinafiuSj 
the firft to Jupiter, the fecond to Hercules, 3nd 
third to Minerva, as fo many monuments of his vie- 
tory. He had fent Parmenio to Damafcus, in u 
Darius's treafure was depofited. The goverhe 
the city, betraying his fovereign from whom he 
now no further expectations, wrote to Alexani: 
acquaint him, that he was ready to deliver up into 
his hands, all the treafure and other rich (lores of 
Darius. But being dtfirous of covering his treafon 
with a fpecious pretext, he pretended that he was not 
fecure in the city, fo caufed, by day- break, all the 
money and the richeft things in it to be put on men's 
backs, and fled away with the whole, feemingly with 
intention to fecure them, but in reality to deliver 

theni 

(g) A. M. 3672. Ant. J.C. 332. 



?6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

them up to the enemy, as he had agreed withParme- 
nio, who had opened the letter add refled to the king. 
At the fir ft fisht of the forces which this general 
headed, thofc who carried the burthens being fright- 
ed, threw them down, and fled away, as did the 
juidiers who convoyed them, and the: governor hrmi 
il'If, who was mad terrified* On this occafion im- 
men lb riches were fecn fcattered up and down the 
fields ; all the gold and filver defigned to pay fo 
great an army ; the fplendid equipages of lo many 
great lords andladies ; the golden vales and bridles, 
magnificent tents, and carriages abandoned by their 
drivers ; in a word, whatever the long profperity and 
frugality of fo many kings had amafied during many 
ages, was abandoned to the conqueror. 

But the mod moving part of this fad fcene was to 
fee the wives of the fatraps ancl grandees of Perfia, 
moft of whom dragged their little children after them j 
t) much the greater objects of compafllon, as they 
were iefs fenfible of their misfortune. Among thefe 
were three young princeffes, daughters of Ochus,who 
had reigned before Darius -, the widow of this Ochus; 
the daughter of Oxathres, brother to Darius ; the 
wife of Artabizus, the greateft lord of the court, and 
Lis fon Ilioneus. There alfo were taken prifoners 
the wife and fon of Pharnabazus, whom the king had 
appointed admiral of all the coafts ; three daughters 
of Mentor ; the wife and fon of Memnon, that illuf- 
trious general, infjmuch that fcarce one noble family 
in all Perfia, but Paired in this calamity. 

There alfo was found in Damafcus the ambafla- 
dors of the Grecian cities, particularly thofe ofLacer 
daemonia and Athens, whom Darius thought he had 
Judged in a fafe afylum, when he put them under the 
protection of that traitor. Befides 



TH~E LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 77 

Befides money and plate, which was afterwards 
coined, and amounted to immenfefums, thirty thou- 
fand men, and feven thoufand beafts laden with bag- 
gage, were caken. We find, by Parmenio's letter 
to Alexander, that he found in Damafcus three hun- 
dred and twenty nine of Darius's concubines, all ad- 
mirably well (killed inmufick -, and alfo a multitude 
of officers, vvhofe bufinefs was to regulate and pre- 
pare every thing relating to entertainments, fuch as 
to make wreaths,, to prepare perfumes and eiTences, 
to drefs viands, to make pies, and all things- in the 
paltry way, to pre fide over the wine cellars, to give 
out the wine, and fuch like. There were four hun- 
dred and ninety two of thofe officers -, a train worthy 
a prince who runs to his deftruclion ! 

Darius, who a few hours before was at the head 
of ib mighty and fplendid an army, and who came 
into the field mounted on a chariot, with the pride 
of a conqueror, rather than with the equipage of 'a 
warrior, was flying over plains, which, from being 
before covered with the infinite multitude of his 
forces, now appeared like a defart or vaft foiirude. 
This ill-fated prince rode fwiftly the whole night, 
accompanied by a very few attendants -, for all had 
not taken the fame road, and moft of thofe who ac- 
companied him could not keep up with him, as he 
often changed his horfes. At lad he arrived at 
*Sochus,wherehe afiembled the remains of his army, 
which amounted only to four thoufand men, inclu- 
ding Perfians as well as foreigners ; and from hence 
he made all poffible hade to Thapfacus, in order to 
have the Euphrates between him and Alexander. 
G 2 In 

* Tbit city nuas t<wo or tbrts days journey from the flan whin 
iht buttle <weu feugbt* 



b THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

In the mean time, Parmenio having carried all the 
booty into Damafcus, the king commanded him to 
take care of it, and likewife of the captives. Mod 
of the cities of Syria furrendcred at the firft approach- 
es of the conquerer. Being arrived at Marathes, he 
received a letter from Darius, in which he (tiled him- 
feif king, without bellowing that title on Alexander. 
He commanded, rather than intreated him, " to afk 
<c any money he fhould think proper, by way of ran- 
" fom for his mother, his wife, and children. That 
" with. regard to their difpute for empire, he might, 
" i[ he thought proper, decide it in one general bat- 
" tie, to which both parties fhould bring an equal 
11 number of troops : but that in cafe lie were ftili 
" capable of good counfel, he would advife him to 
<f reft contented with the kingdom of his anceftors, 
<f and not invade that of another : that they fhould 
f< henceforward live as good friends and faithful al- 
u lies, that he himfelf was ready to fwear to the ob- 
iC fervance of thefe articles, and to receive Alexan- 
* c deVs oath." 

This irtter, which breathed fo unfeafonable a pride 
snd haughtinefs, exceedingly offended Alexander. 

He therefore wrote the following anfwer : 

" Alexander the king to Darius. The ancient Da- 
" rius whofe name you aflume, in former time' en- 
«< ti/ely ruined the Greeks who inhabit the coafts of 
4 ihe Hellefpont, and the Ionians, our ancient colo- 
' nies. He next eroded the fea at the head of a 
'< powerful army, and carried the war into the very 
'■ heart cf Macedonia and^ Greece. After him, 
< Xerxes made another defcent with a dreadful 
' : number of Barbarians, in or4er to fight us ; and 
< ( having been overcome in a naval engagement, he 

" left, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 79 

left, at his retiring,. Mardonius in Greece, who 
plundered our cities, and laid wade our plains. 
But who has not heard that Philip, my father, was 
aflaflinated by wretches fuborned thereto by your 
partizans, in hopes of a great reward ? For it is 
cuftomary with the Perfians to undertake impious 
wars, and, when armed in the field, to fet a price 
upon the heads of their enemies. And even you 
yourfelf, though at the head of a vaft army, how- 
ever promifed a thouiand talents to any perfon 
who fhould kill me. I therefore only defend rv/- 
felf, and confequently am not the aggrclTor. And 
indeed the Gods, who always declare for the juft 
caufe, have favoured my arms - 3 and, aided by their 
protection, I have fubjefted a great part of Afia, 
and defeated you, Darius, in a pitched battle. 
However, though I ought not to grant any re- 
quell you make, fince you have not acted fairly in 
this war ■, neverthelefs, in cafe you will appear 
before me, in a iupplicating pofture, I give 
you my word, that I will reftore to you, without 
any ranfom, your mother, your wife, and children. 
1 will let you fee, that I know how to conquer, and 
" to oblige rheconquered. If you are afraid of fur- 
i rendenngyourfel£ to me, I now aflure you, upon 
lfei* honour, that you may do it without the lead 
" 'danger. But remember, when you next write to 
<f me, that you write not only to a king^but to your 
cf king." Therfippus was ordered to carry this let- 
| 

Alexander, marching from thence into Phoenicia, 
the citizens of Byblos opened their gates to him. 
Every one iubmitted as he advanced -,- .but, no people 
did this with greater pleafure than -the Sidonians. 

The 



SO THE LlfE OF ALEXANDER^ 

The Perfians had deftroyed their city eighteen years 
before, and put all the inhabitants of it to the fword. 
Such of the citizens, who* upon account of 
their traflick, or for fome other caufe, had been ab- 
fent, and by that means had efcaped the general maf- 
facre, returned thither and rebuilt their city. But 
they had retained fo violent a hatred of the Perfians, 
that they were overjoyed at this opportunity to throw 
off their yoke ; and indeed they were the firft in that 
country who fubmitted to the king by their deputies, 
in oppofition to Strato their king, who had declared 
in favour of Darius. Alexander dethroned him, and 
permitted Hephaeftion to eledt in his (lead whomfo- 
ever of the Sidonians he fhould judge worthy of fo 
exalted a ftation. Hephaeftion was quartered at the 
houfe of two brothers, who were young, and of the 
moft confiderable family in the city •, to thefe he of- 
fered the crown : but they refufed it, telling him, 
that according to the laws of their country, no per- 
fon could afcend the throne, unlefs they were of the 
blood royal. Hephaeftion admiring-this greatnefsof 
foul, which could contemn what others drive to o 
tain by fire and fword - y " Continue (iayVhe to'thei 
ei in this way of thinking ; you, wl^befort^di 
" fenfible that it is much more -glorious to, refuft 
" diadem, than to accept it. However, name 
" fome perfon^iof the royal family, who may rem 
" ber, when he is; a king, that it was you who Jet tftfe 
" crown upon hb head." The brothers, obferving 
thatfeveral through excefiive ambition afpired toSj^ 
high ftation, and to obtain it paid a very fervile co 
to Alexander's favourites ; declared that they did not 
know any perfon more worthy of the diadem than 
one Abddlonymus, defcended though at a great dif- 




THE LIFE OP ALEXANDER. Si 

tance, from the royal line ; but who, at the fame 
time, was fo poor, that he was obliged to get his 
bread by day-labour in a garden without the city. 
His bonefty and integrity had reduced him, as well 
as many more, t» fo extreme poverty. Solely 
intent upon his labour, he did not hear the claming 
of arms which had fhaken all Afia. 

Immediately the two brothers went in fearch of 
Abdo'onymus with the royal-garment, and found him 
weeding his garden. They then faluted him king, 
and one of them addreffed him thus : " You mud 
" now change your tatters for the drefsl have brought 
<f you. ' Put off the mean and contemptible habit 
<c in which you have grown old j aflume the fenti- 
t* ments of a prince -, but when you are feated on 
<c the throne, continue to preferve the virtue which 
u made you worthy of it. And when you (hall have af- 
* f cended it, and by that means become the fupreme 
,c difpenfer of life and cWath over all your citizens, 
" be fure never to forget the condition in which, or 
" /ather for which, you was elected, " Abdclony- 
mus looked upen the whole as a dream, and, unable 
"to guefs the meaning of it, afked if they were not 
am imed to ricfltule him in that manner. Bur, as he 
friMlev^greater refiftance than fuited their inclina- 
f.-nY, PJney themfelves warned him, and threw over 
his fnouldejs a purple robe, richly embroidered with 
>Jd ; then after repeated oaths of their being in 
; 'zmbk, they conducted him to the palace... 

* iPe news of this was immediately fpreadover the 

i w^Be city. Mod of the inhabitants were overjoyed 

J atiffbut fome murmured, efpecialiy the rich, who, 

i defying Abdolonymus's former abje<5t date, could 

not forbear fhewing their refentments upon this ac- 

G 3 count 



%2 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

count in the king's court. Alexander commanded 
the new ele£ted prince to be fent for ; and afcer fur- 
veying him attentively a long time fpoke thus : 
" Thy air and mein do not contradict what is rela- 
u ted of thy extra&ion ; but I fhould be glad to 
<c know with what frame of mind thou didft bear 
4C thy poverty." — <c Would to the Gods (replied he) 
" that I may bear this crown with equal patience. 
" Thefe hands have procured me all I defired $ and 
cc whilft I poiTciTed nothing, I wanted nothing." 
This anfwer gave Alexander an high idea of Abdo- 
lonymus' virtue ; fo that he prefented him not only 
with all the rich furniture which had belonged to 
Strato, and part of the Perfian plunder, but likewife 
annexed one of the neighbouring provinces to his do- 
minions. 

Syria and Phoenicia were already fubdued by the 
Macedonians, the city of Tyre excepted. This city 
was juftly entitled the queen of the fta, that element 
bringing to it the tribute of all nations. She boafted 
her having firft invented navigation, and tatfght 
mankind the art of braving the win.d and waves by 
the afliftance^)f a frail bark. The happy fituation 
of Tyre, the conveniency and extentfcf its ports, the 
character of its inhabitants, who were induft rfrps ^h 
borious, patient, and extremely courteous *$% 
gers, invited thither merchants from all parts of the 
globe j fo that it .might be confidered, not fo much 
as a city belonging to any particular nation, ^^je 
common city of all nations, and the centre ol 
commerce. 

Upon Alexander's advancing towards it, the 
rians fent him an embafly with prefents for himfelf, 
and refrefhments for his army. They were willing 

to 




THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, $3 

tohave him for their friend, but not for their mafler -, 
fo that when he difcovered a defire of entering their 
city, in order to offer a facrifice to Hercules, its tu- 
telar god, they refufed him ad million. But this corf*" 
queror, after gaining fo many victories, had too high 
an heart to put up fuch an affront, and thereupon 
Was refolved to force them to it by a fiege, which 
they, on the other fide, were determined to fuflain 
with the utmofl vigour. The fpring was now com- 
ing on. Tyre was at that time feated in an ifland 
of the fea, about a quarter of a league from the con- 
tinent. It was furrounded with a flrong wall an 
hundred and fifty feet high, which the waves of the fea 
wafhed -, and the Carthagenians (a colony from Tyre) 
a mighty people, and fovereigns of the ocean, whofe 
ambafladors were at that time in the city offering to 
Hercules, according to ancient cuftom, an annual 
facrifice, had engaged themfelves to fuccour the Ty- 
rians. It was this made them fo haughty. Firmly 
determined not to furrender, they fix machines on 
the ramparts, and on the towers, arm their young 
men, and build work-houfes for the artificers, of 
whom there were great numbers in the city -, Co that 
every part refounded with the noife of warlike pre- 
parations. They likewife caffc iron grapples, to 
throw on the enemy's works, and tear them away - 9 
as alfo cramp-irons, and fuch like inflruments in- 
vented for the defence of the cities. 

Alexander imagined that there were effential rea- 
fons why he fhould poffefs himfelf of Tyre. He 
was fcnfible that he could not invade Egypt eafily, fo 
long as the Perfians fhould be mailers of the fea s 
nor purfue Darius with fafety,inf cafe he fhould leave 
behind him fo large an extent of country, the inha- 
bitants 



8.4 THE LITE OF ALEXANDER. 

bitants of which were either enemies, or fufpedled to 
be fo. He likewife vvas afraid, left fome infurrec- 
tion mould break out in Greece ; and that his ene- 
mies, after having retaken in his abfence the mari- 
time cities of Afia-Minor, and increafed their fleer, 
would make his country the feat of war during his 
being employed in purfuing Darius in the plains of 
Babylon. Thefe apprehenlions were the more juftly 
grounded, as the Lacedaemonians had declared open- 
ly againft him ; and the Athenians fided with him 
more out of fear than affection, But, that in cafe 
he mould conquer Tyre, all Phoenicia being then 
fubject to him, he would be able to difpofifefs the 
Perfians of half their naval army, which confided of 
the fleet of that province ; and would foon make 
himfelf mailer of the ifland of Cyprus and of Egypt, 
which could not refill him the inftant he was become 
mafler at fea; 

It was impoflible to* come near this city in order 
to ftorm it, without making a bank which would 
reach from the continent to the ifland ; and an at- 
tempt of this kind would be attended with difficul- 
ties that were feemingly infurmountable. The little 
arrrv of the fea which ieparated the ffland from the 
continent, was expofed to the weft wind, which of- 
ten railed fuch dreadful florms there, that the waves 
would in an inftant fweep away all works. Belides, 
as the city was furrounded on all fides by the fea, 
there was no fixing fcaling ladders, nor throwing up 
batteries, but at adiftance in the fhips -, and the wall, 
•Which projected into the fea toward the lower part, 
prevented people from landing ; not to mention that 
the military engines, which might have been put on 
board the gallics, could not do much execution, the 
waves were fo very tumultuous. But 



THE LIFE CF ALEXANDER, $5 

But nothing was capable of checking or van- 
quiihing the refolution of Alexander, who was de- 
termined to carry the city at any rate. However, 
as the few velTels he poiTelTed lay at a great diltance 
from him, and the fiegc of fo ftrong a place might 
poflibly lad a long time, and fo retard his other en- 
terprifes, he thought proper to endeavour an accom- 
modation. Accordingly, he fent heralds, who pro- 
pofed a peace between Alexander and their city ; 
j)ut thefe the Tyrians killed, contrary to the law of 
nations, and threw them from the top of the walls 
into the fea. Alexander cxafperated at fo cruel an 
outrage, formed a refolution at once, and employed 
his whole attention in railing a dike. He fourjd in 
the ruins of old Tyre, which flood on the continent* 
and was called Palae-Tyros, materials to make 
piers, taking all the (tones and rubbilh from it. 
Mount Libanus, which was not far diftant from it, 
fo famous in fcripture for its cedars, furniihed him 
with'wood for pil s, and other timber- work. 

The foldiers began the pier with great alacrity, 
being animated by the prefence of their fovercign, 
who himfelf gave out all the orders; and who, know- 
ing perfectly how to infinuate himfelf into, and gain 
the affections of his troops, excited fome by praifes, 
and others by flight reprimands, intermixed with 
kind expreffions, and foftened by promifes. At flrfl: 
they advanced with pretty great fpeed, the piles be.- 
ing eafily drove into the flime, which lerved as mor- 
tar for the ftones ; and as the place where thefe 
works were carrying on, was at fome diflance from 
the city, they went on without interruption. But 
the farther they went from the fhore, the greater dif- 
ficulties they jriet with j becaufe the iVa was deeper* 

H and 



86 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

and the workmen were very much annoyed by the 
darts discharged from the top of the walls. The 
enemy who were maftcs of the fca, coming forward 
in great boats, .and razing every part of the dike, 
prevented the Macedonians from carrying it on with 
vigour. Then adding infults to their auacks, they 
cried aloud to Alexander's foldiers, w That it was a 
*" noble fight to fee thofe conquerors, whole names 
" were fo renowned ail the world over, carrying 
* 4 burthens on their backs like fo many beads." 
And they would afterwards afk them in a < 
tuous tone of voice, w whether A lexander wa { \ 
<c than Neptune ; and if they pretended lo prevail 
" over that God." 

But thefe -taunts did but inflame the courage of 
the foldiers. At lad the bank appeared above wa- 
ter, began to (how a level of a considerable breadth, 
and to approach the city. Then the beiieged per- 
ceiving w T ith terrour the vaftnefs of the work, which 
the fea had till then kept from their fight, came in 
.their (hip-boats in order to view the bank, which 
was not yet very firm. Thefe boats were full -of 
-(lingers, bowmen, and others who hurled javelins^ 
rand even fire ; and being fpread to the right and 
.left about the bank, they (hot on all fides upon the 
workmen, feveral of whom were wounded j it not 
being pofiible for them to ward off the blows, becaufe 
-of the great eafe and fwiftnefs with which the boats 
moved backwards and forwards j fo that they were 
obliged to leav~ the work to defend themfelves. 
It was therefore rdblved, that (kins and fails (hould 
.be fpread to cover the workmen ; and that two 
-wooden towers ihould be raifc I at the head of the 
.ba'nk, to prevent the s of the enemy* 

On 






THE LIFE OP ALEXANDER, 87 

On the other fide, the Tyrians made adefcent on 
the fhore, out of the view of the camp, where they 
landed fome foldiers, who cut to pieces thofe that 
carried the flones j and on Mount Li ban us there 
alio were ibiTie Arabian peafants, who, meetiag the 
Macedonians flraggiing up and down. Skilled near 
thirty of them, and took very near the fame num- 
ber. Thefe fmall lories obliged Alexander to fc-pa- 
rate his troops into different bodies. 

The befieged, in the mean time, employed every 
invention, every ftraiagern that could be found, to 
ruin the enemy's works* They took a transport 
veffel, and filling it with brumes, and fuch like dry 
materials, made a large enclofure near the -prow, 
wherein they threw all thefe things, with fplphux 
and pitch, and other combuftible matters. In the 
middle of this inclofure they fet up two mads, to 
each of which they fixed two failyards, on which were 
hung kettles full of oil, and fuch like unctuous ftib- 
ftances. They afterwards loaded the hinder part of. 
the veffel with Hones and fand, in order to raifethe 
prow ) and taking advantage of a favourable wind, 
they towed it to fea by the affiftance of their gallic. 
As foon as they were come near the towers they J S 
fire to the veffel in queftion, and drew it to 
the point or extremity of the bank, in tfre '-me-au 
time the farlors, who were in it, leaped into the f/a 
and fwam away. Immediately the fire catched,wit.h 
great violence, the towers, and the reft- of the works 
which were at the head of the bank ; and then the 
fail yards being drove backwards and forwards, threw 
oil upon the fire, which very much increafed the 
Mi re. But, to prevent the^Macedonians from ex- 
jifhing it, the Tyrians, wno were in their gallies, 

were 



28 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

were perpetually hurling at the towers fiery ckrts 
and burning torches, infomuch that there was no 
approaching them. Several Macedonians loft their 
lives in a miferable manner on the bank ; being ei- 
ther fnot through with arrows, or burnt to death ; 
whilft others, throwing down their arms, leaped into 
the fea. But as they were, fwimming away, the Ty- 
s, choaftng to take them alive rather than kill 
n, maimed their hands with clubs and (tones j 
and after dif.rbling them, carried them off. At the 
lame time the befieged, coming out of the ciry in 
little boats, beat down the edges of the bank, tore up 
its flakes, and burnt the reft of the engines. 

Alexander, though he faw moft of his defigns de- 
feated, and his works demolifhed, was not at all de« 
j« died upon that account. Bra foldiers endeavoured, 
h redoubled vigour, to repair the ruins of the 
h r\ • and made and planted new machines with fo 
prodigious a fpeed., as quite aftonifhed the enemy, 
Alexander himfeif was prefent on all occafions, and 
fuperintendtd every part of the works. His pre- 
ki^ce and great abilities advanced thefe frill more, 
than the multitude of hands employed in them. 
The whole was near ftniftied, and brought almoft to 
the wall of the city, when there arofe on a fudden an 
impetuous wind, which drove the waves with fo much 
fury againft the bank, that the cement and other 
things that bound it gave way, and the water rufh* 
ing through tht ftones, broke it in the middle. As 
foon as the great heap of ftones which fupporced the 
earth was thrown* down, the whole funk at once, as 
into an abyfs. 

Any warrior but Alexander would that intrant 
have qj'ue laid afide his enterpnfe i and indeed 

he 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 89 

be himfelf debated whether he mould not raife the 
fiege. But a fuperiour power, who hadjbretold and 
fworn the ruin of Tyre, and whofe orders this 
pnnce oniy. executed, prompted him to continue the 
£ege, and difpcllr.ng all his fear and anxiety, infpired 
fyim with courage and confidence, and fired the breads 
of his whole army with the fame fentiments. For 
pow the foldiers, as if but that moment arrived be- 
fore the city, forgetting all -die toils they had under- 
gone,, began to raife a new moie, at which they 
forked incefiantly. 

Alexander was fenfible, that it would not be pof- 
fible for him either to complete the bank, or take the 
city, as long as the Tynans fhould confnue mailers 
at fca. He therefore refolded to affemble before 
Sidon his few remaining gajlies. At the fame time 4 
the kings of Aradas and By bios, hearing that Alex- 
ander had conquered their cities, abandoned the Per- 
fian fleet, joined him with theirs, and tiiat of the Si- 
d ms, which made in all eighty fail. There arri- 
v I alio much about the fame time, ten gallies from 
Rhodes, three from • Solae, and Mallos 3 ten from 
Lvcia, and one from Macedonia of nfty oars. A 
little after, the kings of Cyprus, hearing that the Per- 
fian army had been defeated near the city of Iffus, 
and that Alexander had pofleiled himfelf of Phceni- 
cia 5 brought him a reinforcement of upwards of one 
hundred and twenty gallies. 

The .king, whilfl his foldiers were preparing the 
fhips and engines, rook fome troops of horfe, jgri:h 
his own regiment of guards, and marched towards a 
mountain of Arabia* called Antilibanus. The ten- 
der regard he had for an old gentleman, formerly hh 
r, who was abfolutely refolved to follow his pu- 
tt 2 pih 



$Q THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

pil, cxpofed Alexander to very great danger. This- 
was Lyfimachus, who gave the name of Achilles to 
his fcholar, and called himfelf Phoenix. When the 
king was got to the foot of the mountain, he leaped 
from his horfe, and began to walk. His troops got 
a confiderable way before him, it was already late, 
and Alexander not being willing to leave his precep- 
tor, who was very corpulent, and fcarce able to walk y 
he by that means was feparated from his little army, 
accompanied only by very few foldiers ; and in this 
manner fpent the whole night very neaF the enemy, 
who were fo numerous, that they might eafily have 
overpowered him. However, his ufual good for- 
tune and courage extricated him from this danger; 
fo that, coming up afterwards with his forces, he ad- 
vanced forward into the country, took all the ftrong 
places either by force or capitulation, and returned 
the eleventh day to Sidon, where he found Alexan- 
der, fon of Polemocrates,who had brought him a re- 
inforcement of four thoufand Greeks from PelopO 1 - 
neflbs. 

The fleet being ready, Alexander took fome fol- 
diers from among his guards, and thefe he embarked 
with him, in order to employ them in elofe fight 
with the enemy $ and then fet fail towards Tyre, irv 
battle array. He himfelf was at the point or ex- 
tremity of the right wing, which extended itfelf to- 
wards the main ocean, being accompanied by the 
kinss of Cyprus and Phoenicia; the left was tom- 
mSBed by Craterus. The Tynans were at firft 
determined to give battle > but after they heard 
of the uniting ot thefe forces, and faw the army ad- 
Vance, which made a great appearance (for Alexan- 
der had halted to wait the coming up of his left wing) 

Tb they 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, Qf 

they kf pt all their gallies in the harbours, to prevent 
the enemy from entering them. When the king 
faw this, he advanced nearer the city ; and finding it 
would be impoflible for him to force the port which 
lav towards Sidon, becaufe of the great narrownels 
of the entrance, and its being defended by a large 
number of gallies, all whofe prows were turned to- 
wards the main ocean, he only funk three of them 
which lay without, and afterwards came to an an- 
chor with his whole fleet, pretty near the bank, 
along the fhore, where his (hips rode in fafety. 

Whilft all thefe things were doing, the new bank 
was carried on with great vigour. The workmen 
threw into the fea whole trees with all their branches 
on them -, and laid great (tones over thefe, on which 
they put other trees, and the latter they covered with 
clay, which ferved inftead of mortar. Afterwards 
heaping more trees and (tones on thefe, the whole 
thus joined together, formed one intire body. This 
bank was made wider than the former ones, in order 
that the towers that were built in the middle might 
be put of the reach of fuch arrows as fhould be (Sot 
from thofe (fops which might attempt to break down 
the edge of the bank. The befieged, on the other 
fide, exerted themfelves with extraordinary bravery, 
and did all that lay in their power to (top the pro- 
grefs of the work. But nothing was of £o much fer- 
vied to them as their divers, whofwiming underwa- 
ter, came unperceived quite up to the bank, and 
with hooks drew fuch biaiches to them as projcfcfcd 
beyond the work ; and pulling forward with great 
(trength, forced away every thing that was over 
them : However, after many delays, the patience of 
the workmen furmoundng every obftacle, it was at 

laft 



<gr? THE LIFE OF ALEXANDERv 

laft finiffced in its utmoft perfection. The Mice*- 
cjonians placedimilitary engines of all kinds on the 
bank, in order to. (hake the wills with battering 
rams,* and hurl on the befieged arrows, (tones, and 
burning ■_ torches r -- 

; At the fame time Alexander ordered the Cyprian 
Beet, commanded- by Andromachus, to take its fta* 
tion before the harbour which lay towards Sidon.; 
and that of- Phoenicia before the harbour on the 
other fide of the bank- facing Egypt ; towards that 
part where his own tent was pitched ; and enabled 
himielf ca attack the city on every fide. The Tyri- 
ans, in their turn, prepared for a vigorous defence. 
On that fide which lay towards the bank, they had 
erected, towers on the wall, which was of a prodigi** 
ous height, and of a proportionable breadth, the 
whole built with great fames cemented together with 
mortar. The acceis to any part was very near ae 
difficult, the enemy having fenced the foot of the 
wall with great (tones, to keep, the Greeks from ap- 
proaching it, The bufinefs then was, tirft to draw 
thefe away, which could not be done but with the 
iitmo-ft difficulty, becaufe, as the ibldiers (iood in 
fbips., they could not keep very firm on their legs* 
Bendes, the Tyrians advanced with covered gallies, 
and cut the cables which held the mips at anchor i 
fo that Alexander was obiiged to cover in like man- 
ner, feveral veiTels of thirty rowers each, and to Na- 
tion thefe ,crofs-wife, to fee ure the anchors from the 
attifcks of the Tyrian gallies. But ftiil divers came 
and cut them unperceived, fo that they were at laft 
forced to fix them with iron chains. After this, they 
drew thefe (tones withcable ropes, and carrying them 
s>ff w*th engine?., they were thrown to i&z bottom of 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 9J 

the fea, where it was not pofiible for them to do 
any furcher mifchief. The foot of the wall being 
thus cleared, the vettVls had very eafy accefs to it. 
In this manner the Tyrians were invefted on al fides y 
and attacked at the fame time both by Tea and land. 
The Macedonians had joined (two and two) 
gallies with four men chained to each oar, in fuch a 
manner, that the prows were fattened, and the (terns 
fo far diftaat one from the other, as was necefTary 
for the pieces of timber between them to be of a pro.- 
per length. After this they threw from one ttem to 
the other fad-yards, which were fattened together by 
planks laid crofs-wife, in order for the foldiers to 
ttand fad on the fpace. The gallies being thus 
equipped, they rowed towards the city, and fhot 
(under covert) againft thofe who defended the walls, 
the prows ferving them as fo many parapets. The 
king caufed them to advance about midnight, in Or- 
der to furround the walls, and make a general affault. 
The Tyrians now gave them-felves for lott, when on 
a fudden the iky was overfpread with fuch thick 
clouds, as quite took away the faint glimmerings of 
light which before darted through the gloom. The 
fea rifes by infenfible degrees -, and the billows being 
fwelled by the fury of the winds, rife to a dreadful 
ftorm. The vefTels dafh one againft the other with 
fo much violence, that the cables, which before fas- 
tened them together, are either Joofened, or break to 
pieces ; the planks fplit, and, making a horrible 
crafh, carry off the foldiers with them ; for the tem- 
ped was fo furious, that it was not pofllble to manage 
or iteer gallies thus fattened together. The foldier 
was a hindrance to the failor, and the failor to the 
foldier j and, as happens on fuch occaQons, thefe 
H 3 obeyed 



P4 THE LIFE Of ALEXANDER. 

whofe bufinefs it was to command ; fear and anxiety 
throwing all things into confulion. But now the 
rowers exerted themfelves with fo much vigour, that 
they got the better of the fea,.and feemed to tear their 
fhips out of the waves. At lad they brought them, 
near the fliore, but the greateft part in a /battered 
condition. 

At the fame time there arrived at Tyre*. thirty 
ambaffadors from Carthage, who did not bring the 
leail foccours, though they had promifed fuch mi 
things. In (lead of this, they only made excufes, 
declaring that it was with, the greateft grief the Car- 
thagenians found themfelves abfoiutely unable to 
afTift the Tyrians in any manner, for that they them- 
felves were engaged in & war, not as before for em- 
pire, but to fave their country. And indeed the 
Syracufans were laying wafle all Africa at that time, 
with a powerful army, and had pitched their camp 
not far from the walls of Carthage. The Tyrians, 
though fruftrated in this manner of the great hopes 
they had conceived, were no ways dejected. They 
only took the wife precautions to fend moll of their 
women and children to Carthage, in order that they 
might be in a condition to defend themfelves to the 
latt extremity, and bear more courageoufly the great- 
eft calamities which might befall them, when they 
had once lodged, in a fecure afyluov what they moft 
valued in the world. 

There was in the city a brazen ftatue of Apollo, 
of an enormous fize. This col o flu s had formerly 
ftood in the city of Gela and Sicily, the Carthegenians 
hiving t ken it about the year 41 2 before Lhrift, had 
given it by wav of pre fen t, to the city of Tyre,which 
they always conlidered as the mother of Carthage, 

XJ 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 95 

The Tynans had fet it up in their city, and wor- 
ship was paid to ir. During the fiege, on a dream 
which one of the citizens had, the Tyrians imagined 
that Apollo was determined to leave them, and go 
over to Alexander. Immediately they faftened with 
a gold chain his flatue to Hercules's altar, to pre- 
vent the deity in queftion from leaving them, For 
I . i e people were filly enough to believe, that after 

;e was thus Lftened down, it would not be 
i for hi u to make his efcape -, and that he 
would be pre . cted from doing fo by Hercules, the 
tutelar god of the c;ty. 

Some of 'the Fnians propofed the reft or in g of a 
facrifice which had been difcontinued for -many ages ; 
.and this was, to facriftce a child born of free pa- 
rents, to Saturn* The Carthagenians, who had bor- 
rowed this facrilegious cuftoin from their founders, 
.preferved it till the deftruc^ion of their city j and 
had not the old men, who were in veiled with the 
■greateft authority in Tyre, oppofed this cruelly-fu- 
perftitious cuftom, a child would have been butch- 
ered on this occafion. 

The Tyrians, finding their city expofed every mo- 
ment to be taken by ftorm, refblved to fail upon the 
Cyprian fleet, which lay at anchor offSidon. They 
took the opportunity to do this at a time when the 
feamen of Alexander's fleet were difperfed up and 
down ; and that he himfelf was withdrawn to his 
tent, pitched on the fea-fhore. Accordingly, they 
came out, about noon, with thirteen gaiiies, all 
manned with choice foldiers who were ufed to fea- 
lights •, and rowing with all their might, came thun- 
; on the enemy's veffels. Part of them they 

empty, and the reft had been manned in great 

hafte. 



96 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

hafte, Some of thefe they funk, and drove feverat 
of them againft the fhores, where they dafhed to 
pieces. The lofs would have been ftiH greater, had 
not Alexander, the inftant he heard of this Tally, ad- 
vanced at the head of his whole fleet with all imagi- 
nable difpatch againft the Tynans. However, thefe 
<lid not wait their. coming up, but withdrew into the 
harbour, after having alio loll fome of their (hips. 

And now the engines playing, the city was warm- 
ly attacked on all fides, and as vigorously defended. 
The befieged, taught and animated by imminent 
danger, and the extreme neceflity to which they were 
reduced, invented daily new arts to defend them- 
ielves, and repulfe the enemy. They warded off all 
the darts difcharged from the baliftrrs againft them 
by the ailiftance of turning wheels, which either 
broke them to pieces, or carried them another way. 
They deadened the violence of the ftones that were 
hurled at them, by fetting up a kind of fails and cur- 
tains made of a foft fubftance, which eafily gave 
way.. To annoy the fhips which advanced againft 
their walls, they fixed g'rapling- irons and fcythes to 
joifts or beams ; then draining their catapultas (an 
enormous kind of crofs-bows) they laid thofe great 
pieces of timber upon them inftead of arrows, and 
and (hot them off on a fudden at the enemy. Thefe 
crufhed fome to pieces, by their great weight ; and 
the hooks or penfile fcythes with which they were 
armed, tore others to pieces, and did confiderable 
damage to their (hips. They alfo had brazen ftelds, 
which they drew red-hot out of the fire ; and, filling 
thefe with burning fand, hurled them in an iiiftant 
from the top of the wall upon the enemy. There 
was nothing the Macedonians fo much -dreaded as 

this 



TM£ LIFE 01" ALEXANDER, 

' is lad invention, for, the moment this bi 
Omd got to the fiefli, through the crevices in the 
armour, it pierced to the very bone, and (tuck to 
clofe, that there was no pulling it off; To that the 
foldiers throwing down their arms, and tearing their 
clothes to pieces, were in this manner expo fed j na- 
ked and defencelefs, to the (riot of the enemy. 

ft was then Alexander, difcouraged at fo vigor- 
ous a defence, debated ferioufly, whether it would 
not be proper for him to raife the fiege, and go for 
Egypt : for, after having over run Alia with prodi- 
gious rapidity, he found his progrefs unhappily re- 
tarded ; and loll, before a fingfe city, the opportu- 
nity of executing a great many projccls of infinitely 
greater importance. On the other fide, he confider- 
ed that it would be a great blemifh to his reputation, 
which had done him greater fervice than his arms, 
fhould he leave Tyre behind him, and thereby prove 
to the world, that he was not invincible. He there- 
fore refolved to make a lait effort with a great 
number of fhips, which he manned with the flower 
of his army, Accordingly, a fecond naval engage- 
ment v/as fought, in which the Tvrians, after fight- 
ing with intrepidity^ were obliged to draw off their 
whole fleet towards the city. The king purfued 
their rear very clofe, but was not able to enter the 
harbour, being repulfed by arrows (hot from the 
walls .: However, he either took or funk a great 
number of their (hips. 

Alexander, after letting his forces repofe them- 
felves two days, advanced his fleet and his engines, 
in order to attempt a general affauit. Both the at- 
tack and defence were now more vigorous than ever. 
The courage of the combatants increafed with the 
I danger : 



9$ the Life of Alexander. 

danger ; and each fide, animated by the mod pow- 
erful motives, fought like lions. Wherever the 
battering-rams had beat down any part of the wa]7, 
and the bridges were thrown out, inftanrly the Argy- 
rafpides mounted the breach with the utmofl valour, 
being headed by Admetus, one of the braveft offi- 
cers in the army, who was killed by the .thruft of 
a * Partifan, as he was encouraging his foldiers. 
The prefence of the king, and elpecially the exam- 
ple he fet, fired his troops with unufual bravery. He 
himfelf afcended one of the towers, which was of a 
prodigious height, and there was expofed to the 
greater]: clanger his courage had ever made him 
hazard ; for, being immediately known by his in- 
fip;nia and the richnefs of his armour, he ferved as a 
mark for all the arrows of the enemy. On this oc- 
cafion lie performed wonders ; killing, with javelins, 
ieveral of thofe who defended the wall ; then ad- 
vancing nearer to them, he forced fome with his 
fword, an i others with his fhield, either into the city 
or the fea ; the tower where he fought almoft 
touching the wall. He foon went over it, by aflift- 
ance of floating bridges, and followed by the nobil- 
ity, poffelTed himfelf of two towers, and the fpace 
between them. The battering-rams had already 
made feverai breaches j the fleet had forced in- 
to the harbour -, and fome of the Macedonians 
had poflefTed themfelves of the towers which 
were abandoned. The Tyrians, feeing the enemy 
mailers of their ramparts, retired towards an open 
place, called Agenor, and there flood their ground ; 
but Alexander marching up with his regiment of 
bodv-guards, killed part of them and obliged the 

reft 

• A kind ef balbtr^ 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 99 

reit to fly. At the fame time, Tyre being taken on 
that fide which lay towards the harbour, the Mace- 
donians ran up and down every part of the city, 
fparing no perfon who came in their way, being 
highly exafperated at the long refinance of the be- 
fieged, and the barbarities they had exercifed tow- 
ards fome of their comrades who had been taken in 
their return to Sidon, and thrown from the battle- 
ments, after their throats had been cut in the fight 
of the whole army. 

The Tyrians, feeing themfelves overpowered on 
on all fides, fome fly to the temples, to implore tlv 
aiTiltance of the gods j others, (hutting themfelves 
in their houfes, efcape the fword of the conque 
by a voluntary death, in fine, others rufh upon vv 
enemy, firmly relblved to fell their lives at the dear- 
er}; rate. Mod of the citizens were got on the !i 
tops, whence they threw (tones, and whatever 
firil to hand, upon fuch as advanced forward 
the city. The king gave orders for killing all ! :;r 
inhabitants (thofe excepted who had flickered . 
felves in the temples-) and to fet fire to every u 
Tyre. Although tlfis order was publifhed 
of trumpet, yet not oneperfc^n who carrit 
to the aiylums. The temples were filled wit 
old men and children only as had remains, 
city. The old men waited at the door:, 
houfes, in expectation every initant of being i 
ced to the rage of the foldiers. It is true, ind 
that the Sidonian foldiers, who were in Altxan 
camp, faved great numbers of them. For, having 
entered the city indifcriminately with the conquer - 
ors, and calling to mind their ancient affinity with 
lac Tyrians (Agenor having founded boih Tyre and 

Sidon) 



100 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Sidon) they, for that reafon, carried off great num- 
bers privately on board their (hips, and conveyed 
them to Sidon. By this kind deceit, fifteen thou- 
fand were faved from the rage of the conqueror; and 
we may judge of the greatnefs of the (laughter, from 
the number of foldiers who were cut to pieces on the 
rampart of the city only, who amounted to fix thou- 
&nd. However, the king's anger not being fully 
appeafed, he exhibited a fcene, which appeared 
dreadful even to the conquerors ; for two thoufand 
men remaining after the foldiers had been glutted 
with {laughter, Alexander caufed them to be fixed 
upon croiles idong the fea fhore. He pardoned the 
ambsfladors of Carthage, who were come to their 
metropolis to offer up a fa-criike to Hercules, ac- 
cording to annual cuftorrn The number of prifon- 
ers, both foreigners and citizens, amounted to thirty 
thou far. i, who were all fold. As for the Macedoni- 
an?, their jofs was very inconfiderable. Alexander 
hi nfelf (aenncedto Hercules, and conducted the ce- 
remony with all his land forces under arms, in con- 
cert with the fleet. With regard to the ftatue of 
Apollo, before mentioned he took off the chains from, 
it, reftored it to its former liberty, and commanded 
that this *god mould thenceforwards be furnamed 
Pfiilalexander, that is, the friend of Alexander. The 
city of Tyre was taken about the end of September* 
after having fuflained feven. months fiege. 

Thus were accomplifhed the menaces which God 
had pronounced by the mouth of his prophets againft 
the city of Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar had begun to 
execute thofe threats, by befieging and taking it $ 
und they were completed by the fad cataftrophe we 
have here defer i bed. 

0) Tyre 



THE L!F£ Of ALEXANDER. 101 

(i) Tyre was built by the Sidonians, two hun- 
dred and forty years before the building of the tem- 
ple of Jerufalem -, for this reafon it is called by 
Ifaiah, The daughter of Sidon. It fcon furpafTed 
its mother city in extent, power and riches. 

(k) It was befieged by Salmanafar, and alone re- 
filled The united fleets of the AMyrians and Phoenici- 
ans j a circumftance which greatly heightened its 
pride. 

(I) Nebuchadnezzar laid fiege to Tyre at the 
fame time that Ithobalus was king of that city ; but 
did not take it till thirteen years after. But before 
U was conquered, the inhabitants had. retired, with 
molt of their effects, into a neighbouring iiland, 
where they built a new city. The, old one was ra- 
zed to the very foundation, and has fince been no 
more than a village, known by the name of Palce- 
Tyrus, or ancient Tyre : but the new one rofe to 
greater power than ever. 

It was in this great and rTouriihing condition-, 
when Alexander befieged and took it. And here 
begins the feventy years obfeurity and oblivion, \v 
which it was to lie, according to Ifaiah. 1: was in- 
deed foon repaired, becaufe the Sidonians, who en- 
tered the city- with Alexander's army, faved fifteen 
thoufand of their citizens, who, after tneir return. 
applied themfelves to traflkk, and repaired the ruins 
of their country with incredible application ; be- 
fides which, the women and children, who had been 
fent to Carthage, and lodged in a place of fafety, re- 
turned to it at the fame time. But Tyre was con 
I 2 aned 

(i) A. M 2992. Airti 7. C. 1712. 

fk) A.M. 3285 Ant. J. C. jig. 

0) A. M. 34.2* Ant. j. C. 572, 



102 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

fined to the ifland in which it flood. Its trade ex- 
tended no farther than the neighbouring cities, and: 
it had loft the empire of the fea, And when, eigh- 
teen years after, Antigonus befieged it with a ilrong. 
Beet, we do not find that theTyrians had any mari- 
time forces to oppofe him. This feeond fiege,which 
reduced it a feeond time to captivity, plunged it into 
the (lace of oblivion from which it endeavoured to 
extricate itfelf -, and this oblivion continued the exact 
time foretold by Ifaiah. 

(m) Tyre, before the captivity of the Jews in 
Babylon, vvas con fidered as one of the mod ancient 
and uourifhing cities of the world. Its induftry and. 
very advantageous fuuation had raifed it to the fo- 
vereigntv of the feas,. and made it the centre of all 
the trade in the univerfe ;.. all nations contributed to. 
the increafe of its riches, fplendour, and power. 

And Tyre, on the other fide, difperfed this varied 
abundance over all kingdoms,, and infected them 
with its corrupt manners, by infpiring mankind with 
a leve for cafe, vanity, luxury, and vcluptuoufnefs. 

(fi) A: long v uninterrupted feries ot profperities- 
had fweiled the pride of Tyre. She delighted to. » 
confider herfelf as the queen of cities > whofe cor- 
/efpondents are illustrious princes, whole, rich tra- 
ders difpute for fuperiori ty~ with kings: who fees- 
every maritime power, either as her allies or depen- 
dents ; and who made herfelf, neceffary or formida- 
ble to all nations. 

Tyre had now filled up the measure of her iniquity, 
by her impiety againft God, and her barbarity exer- 
eifed againit his people,. She had rejoiced over the 

ruins 

[w) Fz'k. X3fvi. and xxvij. throughout, Ezei\xv\\, A 4 25. 
(j$) t-^A. xx-i, 37, xxviii, 3. 4. 25.-— 3*1 •'• 



THE LIFE 6F ALEXANDER. IC/j- 

ruins of Jeruialem, in the infulting. words follow- 
ing. (o) " Behold then the gates of this Co popu- 
" louscity are broken down. Her inhabitants (hall 
" come to me, and I will enrich myfelfwith her 
<c fpoils, now fhe is laid wade/' (p) She was not 
fatisfied with having -educed the Jews to a ftate of 
captivity, notwithstanding the alliance between 
rhem j with felling them to- the Gentiles, and deliv- 
ering them up to their mod cruel enemies : (q) She 
like wife had feized upon the inheritance of the Lord,,, 
and carried away from his temple the moft precious 
things, to enrich therewith the temples of her Idols. 

(r) This profanation and cruelty drew down the 
vengeance of God upon Tyre. God is refolved to 
deftroy her, becaufe ihe relied fo much upon her own 
ftrength, her wifdom, and her alliances. . He there- 
fore brought againft her Nebuchadnezzer, that king 
of kings, to overflow her with his mighty holt, as 
with waters that overfpread their banks, in order to- 
demolifh her ramparts, to ruin her proud palaces, 
to deliver up her merchandizes and treafures to the 
foldier, and to raze Tyre to the very foundation^ 
after having fet fire to it, and either extirpated or 
difperled all its inhabitants. 

But Tyre, after fhe had recovered her loffes, and 
repaired her ruins, forgot her former ftate of humili- 
ation ; (s) fhe (till was puffed up with the glory of 
poffeiTing the empire of the fea j of being the feat 
of univerfal commerce; of giving birth to the mofr 
famous colonies^ of having within her walls mer- 
chants. 

fa J Ezei. xxvii. 2. 
(p) JW/iii. 2. 8. 

(q) /tr/iii* 2. 4. 7. Amos i- 9. 10. 

( r ) Jtrcm, ilvii. 2. 6. Ezei. xxvii. 3. 12* and J9.jnmi.27. 34= 
I //«/. xxi.i. 3, 4, 7, *, 12. 



fC4 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

chants, whofe credit, riches, and fplendour, equalled 
them to the princes and gre^t men of the earth. 

(t) But fince this city, corrupted "by pride, by 
avarice and luxury, has not profited by the firft lef- 
fon which God had given her, in the perfon of the 
king of Babylon ; and that, after being oppreft by 
all the forces of the eaft, are ft ill would not learn to 
confide no longer in the falfe and imaginary fup- 
ports of her awn greatnefs : (u) God foretells her 
another chaftiiement, which he will fend upon her 
from the weft, near four hundred years after the firft, 
(v) her deftru&ion will come from thither, that is, 
Macedonia ; from a kingdom fo weak and obfcure^ 
that it had been deipiied a few years before ; a king* 
dom whence (he could never have expected fuch & 
blow. Tyre r poflefled with an opinion of her own 
wifdom, arid proud of her fleets, of her immenfe 
riches, which fhe heaped up as mire in the ftreets, 
and alio protected by the whole power of the Per- 
fian empire, docs not imagine ihe has any thing to 
fear from thofe new enemies, who being Htuated at a 
great diliance from her,, without either money, 
ftrength or reputation ; having neither harbours nor 
fhips, andbeing quite unfkilled in navigation ; can- 
not therefore, as (he imagines, annoy her with her 
land forces (w) Tyre looks upon herielf as im- 
pregnable, becaufe fhe is defended by lofty fortifica- 
tions, and furraunded on- all fides by the fea, as with 
a mote and girdle : neverthelefs, Alexander, by fil- 
ling up the arm of the lea which feparates her from 
the continent, will force off her girdle, and demolifhi 

thofe 

(/) Ezel. xxviii. 2V 

{u) J/a. xxiii. 13. 

(;t>) 1 Maccab. 1. I. Z'tch, ix. Z\ 5>- 

£w). J/a. axui. 10 1. I3> 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 10$ 

thofe ramparts which ferved her as a fecond en- 
clofure. 

Tyre, thus difpofTefied of her dignity as queen 
and as a free city, boafting no more her diadem nor 
her girdle, will be reduced during feventy years,, to 
the mean condition of a (lave. (#) The Lord hath 
purpofed it, to ftain the pride of all glory, and to 
bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. 
(y) Her fall will drag after it the ruin of trade in 
genera), and me will prove to all cities a fubject of 
forrow and groans, by making them lofe the prefent 
means and the future hopes of enriching themfdves- 



Sect. VII. Darius writes a fecond letter to Alex- 
ander. Journey of the latter to Jerufalem. The 
honour he pays to Jaddus the high-prieft. He is 

Jhewn thofe prophecies of Daniel which relate to 
himfelf. The king grants great privileges to the 
Jezvs, but refufes thtm to the Samaritans. He be- 

fieges and takes Gaza, enters Egyt> andfubdues that 
country. He there lays the foundation of Alexandria, 
then goes into Lybia y where he vifits the temple of 
Jupiter Ammon> and caufes himfelf to be declared 
the f on of that god., His return into Egypt. 

Whilst Alexander was carrying on the flege of 
Tyre, he had received a fecond letter from Bterius, 
who at laft gave him the title of king. <c He ofi>red 
** him ten thoufand talents as a ranfotn for the cap- 
* tive princeffes, and his daughter Statira in marri- 



{x) I/a. xxiii. 9. 

IjA. XXUi. 1. 11, 1^, 



a g e ; 



106 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

<c age, with all the country he had conquered as far 
* c as the Euphrates, Darius hinted to him theincon- 
c< ftancy of fortune ; and defcribed, in the moft 
u pompous terms the numberlefs troops who were 
iC ftill under his command. Could he (Alexander) 
<r think, that it was fo very eafy to crofs the Eu- 
" phrates, the Tygris, the Araxrs, and the Hydaf- 
<f pes, which were as fo many bulwarks to the Per- 
14 fian empire? That he fhould not always be fhut; 
" up between rocks and pafifes : that they ought 
,f both to 3ppear in a plain, and that then Alexander 
M would be afhamed to come before him with only 
<c a handful of men." The king hereupon fum- 
moned a council, in which Parmenio was of opinion, 
that he ought to accept of thofe offers, declaring he 
himfelf would sgree to them were he Alexander. 
And fo would I, replied Alexander, were I Parmenio. 
He therefore returned the following anfwer : " That 
" he did not want the money Darius offered him : 
" that it did not become Darius to offer a thing he 
•• no longer poffeffed, or pretend todiftribute what he 
" had entirely loft, that in cafe he was the only per- 
** fon who did not know which of them was 
<c fuperior, a battle would foon determine it. That: 
« f he fhould not think to intimidate with rivers, a 
£C man who had crofted fo many feas. That to 
M whatfoever place he might find ft proper to retire, 
* £ Alexander would not fail to find him out." Da- 
rius, upon receiving this anfwer, loft all hopes of an 
accommodation, and prepared again for war. 

From Tyre, Alexander marched to Jerufalem, 
firmly refolved to iliew it no more favour than he 
had done the former city j and for this reafon. The 
Tyrians were fo much employed in trafnek, that they 

q.u'.'.s 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. IO7 

quite neglected hufbandry, and brought mod of their 
corn and other provifions from the conutries 
in their neighbourhood : Galilea, Samaria, and 
Judea furnifhed them with the greatefl quantities. 
At the fame time that Alexander laid fiege to their 
city, he himfelf was obliged to fend for provifions 
from thofe countries : he therefore fent commifTarics 
to fummon the inhabitants to fubmit, and furniih his 
army* with whatever they might want. The Jews, 
however, defired to be excufed, alledging, that they 
had taken an oath of fidelity to D/rius ; and per- 
lifted in anfwering, that they would never acknow- 
ledge any other fovereign as long as he was living. The 
Samaritans, however, did not imic-ite them in this 
particular j for they fubmitted with chearfulnefs to 
Alexander, and even fent him eight thoufand men, 
to ferve at the fiege of Tyre, and in other places. 

Alexander, being little ufed to fuch an anfwer as 
he received from the Jews, refolved the inftant he 
had conquered Tyre, to march againft the Jews, and 
pun'fh their difobedience as rigoroufly as he had done 
that of the Tyrians. 

In this imminent danger, Jaddus, the high-pried:, 
who governed under the Perfians, feeing himfelf ex- 
pofed with all the inhabitants, to the wrath of the 
conqueror, had recourfe to the protection of the Al- 
mighty, gave orders for the offering up publick pray- 
ers to implore his afTiftance, and made facrifices. 
The night after, God appeared to him in a dream, 
and bid him, " To caufe flowers to be fcattered up 
" and down the city ; to fet open all the gates, and 
(< and go cloathed in in his pontifical robes, with all 
cc the priefts clrelfed alfo in their veftments, and ail 
* f the reft cioathed in white, t© meet Alexander, and 

" not 



108 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

* f not to fear any evil from that king, inaimuch as 
" he would protect them." This command was 
punctually obeyed ; and accordingly this auguft 
proce/fton, the very day after, marched out of the 
city to an eminence called Saphia* whence there was 
a view of all the plain, as well as of the temple 
and city of Jerufalem. "Here the whole procetfion 
waited the arrival of Alexander. 

The Syrians and Phoenicians, who were in his 
army, were perfuaded that the wrath of this prince 
was fo great, that he would certainly punifh the high- 
prieft afte,r an exemplary manner, and deftroy that 
city in the fame manner as he had done Tyre ; and 
fiufhed with joy upon that account, they waited in 
expectation of glutting their eyes with the calamities 
of a people to whom they bore a mortal hatred. As 
ibon as the Jews heard of the king's approach, they 
frt out to meet him with all the pomp before defcri- 
bed. Alexander was (truck at the fight of the high- 
prieft, in vvhofe rrnrre and forehead a golden plate 
was fixed, on which the name of God was written. 
The moment the king perceived the high pried, he 
advanced towards him with an air of the moft pro- 
found refpect ; bowed his body, adored the auguft 
name upon his front, and fainted him who wore it 
with a religious veneration. Then the Jews fur- 
rounding Alexander, railed their voices to wifn him 
every kind of profperity. All the fpectators were 
feized with inexpreflible furprize ; they could fcarce 
believe their eyes ; and did not know how to ac- 
count for a light fo contrary to their expectation, 
and lb vaitiy improbable. 

Parmenio, 

* The Hebre*iv word Saphia, fignifim t§ dijcovtr from far, *t 
from a reaver or centry lox. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. TOO, 

Parmenio, who could not yet recover from his 
sftonifhmenr, afked the king how it came to pafs 
that he, who was adored by every one, adored the 
high-pried of the Jews. " I do not (replied Alex- 
" ander) adore the high-pried, but God whole mi- 
i( nider he is ; for whild I was at Dia, in Macedo- 
" nia (my mind wholly fixed on the great defign of 
c< the Perfian war) as I was revolving the methods 
<c how to conquer Ada, this very man, drefled in 
cc the fame robes, appeared to me in a dream j ex- 
u horted me to baniik every fear, bid me crefs the 
M the HeUefpont boldly ; and aiiured me that God 
C{ would march at the head of my army, and give 
< ( me the victory over that of the Perfian s." 
Alexander added, that the indant he faw this pried, 
iie knew him by his habit, his dature, his hair, and 
his face, to be the fameperfon whom he had feen at 
Dia -, that he was firmly perfuaded, it was by the 
command, and under the immediate conduct of hea- 
ven, that he had undertaken this war ; that he was 
Jure he fliould overcome Darius hereafter, and def- 
troy the empire of the Perfiansj and that this was the 
reafon why he adored this God in the perfon of his 
pried. Alexander, after having thus anfwered Par- 
menio, embraced the high-pried, and all his breth- 
ren ; then walking in the midd of them, he arrived 
at Jerufaiem, where he offered facrifices to God, in 
the temple, after the manner prefcribed to him by 
the high-pried. 

The high- pried, afterwards, fhewed him thofe 
paflages in the prophecies of Daniel * which arc 

K fpoken 

# The reader may find thofe prophecies in Dan. 1 1. 20. 21. 37, 
Hid. <ver. 35. Dan. iv. 32. 34. 35. $&', Dan* vii. 2. 3 4. 5. $, 
Dan. xi. z, Dan* viii. 



J 10 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

fpoken of that monarch. We may eafily figure to 
ourfelves the great joy and admiration with wh'ch 
Alexander was filled, upon hearing fuch clear, fuch 
circumftantial, and advantageous promifes. Before 
he left Jerufalem, he aflfembled the Jews, and bid 
them afk any favour whatfoever. They anfwered, 
that their requeft was, to be allowed to live accord- 
ing to the laws which their anceftors had left them, 
and to be exempt the feventh year, from their ufual 
tribute; and for this reafon, becaufe they were for- 
bid, by their laws, to fow their fields, and confe- 
quently could have no harveft. Alexander granted 
their requeft, and, upon the high-prieft's befeeching 
him to fuffer the Jews, who lived in Babylonia and 
Media, to live likewife agreeable to their own laws, 
he alfo indulged them in this particular, with the 
urn oft humanity ; and faid further, that in cafe any 
of them would be willing to ferve under his ftand- 
ards, he would give them leave to follow their own 
way of worfhip, and to obferve their refpedlive cuf- 
torns : Upon which offer, great numbers lifted them- 
Jclves. 

He was fcarce come from Jerufalem, but 
the Samaritans w T aited upon him with great pomp 
kind ceremony, humbly intreating him to do them 
alfo the honour to vifit their temple. As thcfe had 
fubmitted voluntarily to Alexander, and fent him 
fucconrs, they imagined that they deferved his favour 
much more than the Jews ; and flattered themfelves 
that they mould obtain the fame, and even much 
greater indulgence. It was in this view they made 
the pompous procefiion above mentioned, in order 
to invite Alexander to their city ; and the eight 
tjioufand men they had fent to ferve under him, 

joined 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. Ill 

joined in the requeft made by their countrymen. Alex- 
ander thanked them courteoufly ; but (aid, that he 
was obliged to march into Egypt, and therefore had no 
time to lofe ; however, that he would vifit their 
city at his return, in cafe he had opportunity. They 
then bcfought him to exempt them from paying a 
tribute every feventh year ; upon which Alexander 
afked them, whether they were Jews ? They ri 
an ambiguous anlwer, which the king not having 
time to examine, he alfo fufpended this matter tili 
his return, and immediately continued his march to- 
wards Gaza. 

Upon Jiis arrival before that city, he found it pro- 
vided with a iirong garrifon, commanded by Betis, 
one of Darius's eunuohs. This governor, who w:r> 
a brave man, and very faithful to his fbvereign, 
fended it with great vigour againft Alexander. A$ 
this was the only inlet or pafs into Egypt, it was ab- 
fblutely neceftary for him to conquer it, and there- 
fore he was obliged to befiege it. But although 
every art of war was employed, notwithstanding his 
foldiers fought with the utmoft intrepidity , he Was 
however forced to lie two months before it. Exaf- 
perated at its holding out fo long, and his receiving 
two wounds, he was refolved to treat the governor, 
the inhabitants, and foldiers, with a barbarity abso- 
lutely inexcufable ; for he cut ten thoufand men to 
pieces, and fold all the reft, with their wives and 
children, for flaves. When Betis, who had c 
taken prifoner in the laft aftault, was brought be- 
fore him, Alexander, inftead of ufrng him kindly, 
his valour and fidelity juftiy merrited, this yo. 
monarch, who otherwife efteemed bravery eve 
an enemy, fired on that occafion with an infdent joy, 

fpoke 



112 TOE LITE OT ALEXANDERS. 

fpoke thus to him : Betis, thou (halt not die the 
death thou de fired ft. Prepare therefore to fuffer all 
thofe torments which revenge can invent. Betis,, 
looking upon the king not only with a. firm^but an 
haughcy air, did not make the lead reply to his 
menaces ; upon which the king, more en, igeri than, 
before at his difdainful.filence — " Obferve, laid he, I 
" befeech you, that dumb arrogance :.. Has he bended 
(i the knee ? Has he fpoke but even fo much as one 
<0 fubmiffive word ? But I will conquer this obftinaxe 
4i {iience,and wiij force groans from him, if I can. 
45 draw, nothing elfe." At lad Alexander's anger rofe 
to iury y his conduct now beginning to change 
with his fortune : Upon which he ordered a hole co 
be made through his heels, when a rope being put thro" 
them, and this bdngtied to a chariot, he ordered hisfoU 
diers to drag Betis round the city till he died'. He 
boalled his having imitated on this occafion, Achil- 
les, from whom he was defcended ; who, as Homer 
rei K.s, caufe-d the d?:id body of Hector to be drag- 
ged in the. fame manner, round the walls of Troy. 

He fen I tbx grea tele part of the plunder he founds 
in Gaza to Olympias, to Cteopatra his fitter, and to 
his friends. He alfo prefented Leonidas, his pre- 
ceptor, Vuh five hundred quintals (or a hundred 
weiglu) of frankincenfe, and an hundred quintals of 
myrrh -, calling to mind a caution Leonidas had giv- 
en him when but a child, and which feemed,even at 
that time, to prefage the conqueft this monarch had. 
lately atchieved. For Leonidas, obferving Alexan- 
der take up whole handfuls of incenfe at a facrifice, 
and throw it into the fit'e, faid to him: Alexander, 
when you fhall have conquered the country whicb- 
produces thcfe fpices, you. then may be as profufe 06 

incenfe 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 113 

incenfe as you pleafe ; but till that day comes, be 
fparing of what you have. The monarch therefore 
writ to Leonidas as follows : I fend you a large 
quantity of incenfe and m}rrb, in order that you 
may no longer be fo referved and fparing in your 
facrifices to the Gods. 

As foon as Alexander had ended the fiege of Gaz2, 
he left a garrifon there, and turned the whole power 
of his arms towards Egypt. In feven days much 
he arrived before Pelufium, whither a great number 
of Egyptians had afTembled with all imaginable dili- 
gence to recognife him for their fovereign. 

The hatred thefe people bore to the Perfians was 
fo great, that they valued very little who mould be 
their king, provided they could but meet with a hero to 
refcue them from the infolence and indignity with 
which themfelves, and thofe who profefled their re- 
ligion, were treated. 5 For r £iow fa He foever a religi- 
on may be (and it is fcarce pofilble to imagine one 
more abfurd than that of the Egyptians) fo long as 
it continues to be the eftablifhed -religion, the pe 
pie will not fufFer it to be infulted, nothing affedting 
their minds fo ftrongly, nor firing them f o a greater 
degree. Oehus, who had caufed their god Apis to be 
murthered,. in a manner highly injurious to thcm- 
ielves and their religion ; and the Perfians, to whom 
he had left the -government, continued to make the 
fame mock of that deity. Thus feveral circumitan.- 
ces had rendered the Perfians fo odious, that, upon 
Amyntas's coming a little before with a handful of 
men, he found them prepared to join, and afEfi him 
in expelling the Perfians. 

This Amyntas had defertcd from Alexander, and 
entered into the fervicc of Darius. He had com- 

K. 2 manded 



2 14 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

rmndcd the Grecian forces at the battle of Iffus j and* 
having fled into Syria^ by the country lying towards 
Tripoli, with four thoufand men, he had there feized 
upon as many veffels as he wanted, burned the reft, 
and immediately fet fail, towards the ifland of Cyprus, 
and afterwards towards Peluflum, which he took by 
furprife, upon feigning that he had bee rv honoured' 
with a commiffion from Darius, appointing him go- 
vernor of Egypt, in the room of Sabaces, killed \u 
the battle of llfus. As foon as he found himfelf 
porTefled of this important city, he threw off the 
mafk, and made public pretenfions to the crown of 
Egypt} declaring, that the motive of his coming 
was to expel the Fenians, Upon this a multitude 
of Egyptians, who wifhed for nothing fo earneftly as 
to free themfelves from thefe infupportable tvrants ? , 
went over to hirm He then marched, directly for 
Memphis, the capital of the kingdom - 9 when, com- 
ing to a battle,, he defeated the Perfians, and fhut 
them up in the city. But, after he had gained this* 
victory,, having negieiled to keep his foldiers toge- 
ther,, they draggled up and down in fearch of plun- 
der. ; which the enemy feeing, they fallied out upon 
iuch as remained, and cut them to pieces, with 
Amyntas their leader. 

This event, fo far from lelTening the averfion the 
Egyptians had for the Perfians, increafed it ft ill 
more ; {o that the moment Alexander appeared- 
upon the frontiers,, the people, who were alldifpofed 
to receive that monarch, ran in crouds to fubmit to 
him. His arrival at the head of a powerful army,pre- 
fented them with a fecure protection, which Amyntas 
rould not a fiord them ; and, from this confiderarion, 
ihey all declared openly in his favour. MazceuSj 

wiio 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. WJ r 

who commanded in Memphis., finding it would be 
to no purpofe for him to refift fo triumphant an army, 
and that Darius., his fjvereign, was not in a condi- 
tion to fuccour him ; he therefore fet open the gates 
of the city to the conqueror, and gave up eight hun- 
dred talents, about one hundred and forty tlaoufand 
pounds, and a«ll the king's furniture. Thus Alex- 
ander pofTeflfed himfelf of ail Egypt, without meeting 
with the ieaft oppofuian.. 

At Memphis he formed a defign of vifiting the- 
temple of Jupiter Ammon. This temple was fitua- 
ted in the midft of the fandy defarts of Lybia, and 
twelve days journey from Memphis. Ham, the foa 
of Noah, , firft peopled Egypt and Lybia, after the 
flood ; and when idolatry began to gain ground in 
she world Tome time after, her was the chief deity of 
thofe two countries in which his defeendants had 
continued. A temple was built to his- honour in 
the midft of thefe defarts, upon a fpot of pretty good 
ground, about two leagues broad, which formed a 
kind of i (land in afeaof fand. It is he whom the 
Greeks call Jupiter, and the Egyptians Ammon. 
In procefs of time thefe two names were joined, , and 
he was called Jupiter- Ammon. . 

The motive of this journey, which was equally. 
ralh and dangerous, was owing to a ridiculous vani- 
ty. Alexander, having read in Homer, an i other 
fabulous authors of antiquky, that moft of their he- 
roes were reprefented as fons of fome deity ; and as 
he himfelf was dcfirous of palling for an hero, he 
w s determined to have fome god for his father. 
Accordingly, he fixed upon Jupiter Ammon for this 
purpofe, and began by bribing the priefts^and teach- 
ing them the part they were to aft. 

(b} Alexander 



110 THE LIFE ©F ALEXANpER. 

(£) Alexander therefore fetsout ; and goingdowri 
from the river Memphis, till he came to the Tea, 
he coafts it -, and after having pafFed Canopus, he 
obferves, oppoilte to the ifland of Pharos, a fpot he 
thought very well fnuated for the building of a cir l 
He himfeif drew the plan of it, and marked our the 
feveral places where the temples and ' public fquares 
were to be erecled. Forthe building it, he employ- 
ed Dinocrates the architect, who had acquired great 
reputation by his rebuilding, at Ephefus, the tem- 
ple of Diana, which Heroftratus had burnt. This* 
city he called after his own name, and it afterwards 
role to be the capital of the kingdom. As its h.ir- 
bour, which was very commodious, had the Mediter- 
ranean on one fide, and the Nik and red-fea in its 
neighbourhood, it drew- all the traffic of the eaft and 
weft; and thereby became, in a very little time, one .: 
of the mod Bourifhing cities in the univerfe, . 

Alexander had a journey to go of fixteen hundred 
iiadia, or fourfcore French leagues," to the temple of 
Jupiter Amnion j and moft of the way was through 
fandy defarts. The foldiers were patient enough 
for the two firft days m <rch, before they arrived in 
the vaft dreadful folitudes ; but as loon as they found 
themfelves in v'.vft plains, covered with fands of a 
prodigious depth, they were greatly terrified. Sur- 
rounded, as with a fea, they gazed round as far as 
their fight could extend, to difcover, if poffible, fome 
place that was inhabited j but all in vain, for they 
could not perceive fo much as a fmgle tree, nor the 
lead footfteps of any land that had been cultivated; 
To increafe their calamity, the water, that they had 
brought in goat-ikins, upon camtls, now failed ; and- 

the:, 

(b) AiM. 3673, Anu 7. C. 331* 



THE LIFJE OF ALEXANDER, I I J 

there was not fo much as a Tingle drop in all that 
fandy defart. They therefore were reduced to the 
fad condition of dying almoft with thirft ; and not 
to mention the danger they were in of being buried 
under mountains of fand, that are ibm'e times railed 
by the winds ; and which had formerly deftroyed 
fifty thoufand of Cambyfes's troops. Every thing 
was by this time fcorched to fo violent a degree, and 
the air become fo hot.,: that the men could fcarcely 
breathe ; when on a fudden, whether by chance,, 
fey the hiilorians, or the immediate indulgence of 
heaven, the fky was fo completely overfpread with 
thick clouds, that they hid the fun,, which was a 
great relief to the army > though they were dill in 
prodigious want of. water. But the ftorm having 
difcharged itfelf in a violent rain, every foldier got 
as much as he wanted j and fome had fo violent a. 
thirft, that tbey flood with their mouths open, and 
catched the rain as it fell. 

They were feveral days in eroding thefe defarts, 
and, upon their arriving near the place where the 
oracle flood, they perceived a great number of ra- 
vens flying before the mod advanced flandard. 
Thefe ravens, fometimes, flew to the ground when 
the army marched (lowly; and, at other times,. ad- 
vanced forward, to ferve them as guides, till they, at 
laft, came to the temple of the god. h, vaftly fur- 
prifing circumftance is, that although this oracle be 
Jkuated in the mid ft of an a.Tioft boundlefs folitude, 
k nevertheless is- furrounded with a grove, fo very 
fliady, that the fun- beams can fcarcely pierce it ; 
not to mention that this grove or wood is watered 
with fever.d fprings of freih water, which preferve ic 
in. perpetual verdure., It is related, that near this- 
K 3 grow 



Il8 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

grove there is another, in the midft of which is a 
fountain, called the water, or fountain of the fun. 
At day-break it is luke warm, at noon cold j but in 
the evening it grows warmer infenfibly, and at mid- 
night is boiling hot ; after this, as day approaches, 
it decreafes in heat, and continues this viciflicude 
for ever. 

The god who is worfhiped in this temple, is not 
reprefented under the form which painters and fculpt- 
or3 generally give to gods ; for he is made of eme- 
ralds, and other precious flones, and from the head 
to the * navel, refembles a rain. The king being 
come into the temple, the fenior pried declared 
him to be the fon of Jupiter -, and afiured, that the 
god himfelf beftowed this name upon him. Alex- 
ander accepted it with joy, and acknowledged Jupi- 
ter as his father. He afterwards afked the pried, 
whether his father Jupiter had not allotted him the 
empire of the whole world ? to which the pried, 
who was as much a flatterer as the king was vain- 
glorious, anfwered, that he mould be monarch of the 
univerfe. At lad, he inquired, whether all his fath- 
er's murderers had been punilhed 3 but the pried re- 
plied, that he blafphemed ; that his father was im- 
mortal t but that with regard to the murderers of 
Philip, they had all been extirpated ; adding, that 
he mould be invincible, and afterwards take his feat 
among the deities. Having ended his facrifice, he 
offered magnificent pr^ents to the god, and did noc 
forget the prieds, who had been ih faithful to his 
intereih 

Swelled with the fpendid title of the fon of Jupi- 
ter, 

* This paffagt in Quint us Curtius is prttty difficult , and is -< <• • 
wjly exptqintd by interj>rtters* 



THE LIFE OF ALTXANDER. II9 

ttfcr, and fancying himfelf raifed above the humnn 
■fcecies, he returned from his journey as from a tri- 
umph, From that time, in all his letters, his orders 
and decrees, he always wrote in the ftvle. following : 
ALEXANDER KING, SON OF JUPITERAM- 
MON : In anfwer to which, Olympias, his mother, 
one day made a very witty remonfbrance in a few 
words, by defiring him not to quarrel any longer 
with Juno. 

Whilft Alexander prided himfelf in thefe chimeras, 
and tailed the great pleafure in vanity made him con- 
ceive from this pompous title, everyone derided him 
in fecret ; and fome, who had not yet put on the 
yoke of abject flattery, ventured to reproach him up- 
on that account ; but they paid very dear for that 
liberty, as- the fequel will mow. 

Alexander, upon his return from the temple of 
Jupiter Amman, being arrived at the Palus Mareo- 
tis, which was not far from the ifland of Pharos, made 
a vifit to the new city, part of which was new built. 
He took the bell method poflible to people it, in- 
viting thither all forts of perfons, to whom he offered 
the moft advantageous conditions. He drew to it, 
among others, a confiderable number of Jews, by 
allowing them very great privileges -, for, he not 
only left them the free exercife oftheir religion and 
Jaws, but put them on the fame foot in every refpect 
with the Macedonians, whom he fettled there. From 
thence he went to Memphis, where he fpent the 
winter. 

Varro obferves, that at the time this king built 

Alexandria, the ufe of Papyrus (for writing) was 

fouad in Egypt -, but this I (hall mention elfe where. 

During Alexander's flay in Memphis, he fettled 

j the 



120 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

the affairs of Egypt, fuffering none but Macedoni- 
ans to command the troops. He divided the coun- 
try into diftricls, over each of which he appointed a 
lieutenant, who received orders from himfelf only ; 
not thinking it fafe to entruft the general command 
of all the troops to one (ingle ptrfon, in fo large and 
populous a country. "With regard to the civil gov- 
ernment, he inverted one Doloafpes with the whole 
power of it j far being defirous that Egypt fhould 
fill 1 be governed by its ancient laws and cuftoms, he 
was of opinion that a native of Egypt, to whom they 
muft be familiar, was fitter for that oSice than any 
foreigner whatfoever. 

To haften the building of this new city, he ap- 
pointed Cleomenes infpeAor over it j with orders 
for him to levy the tribute which Arabia was to pay. 
But this Cleomenes was a very wicked wretch, who 
abufed his authority, and opprefled the people with 
the utmoft barbarity. 

— >Cx>0<^|*Gk>C* — 

(c) StxT. VIII. Alexander y after his return from 
Egypt % refolves to go in purfuit of Darius, athisfet- 
ting out he bears of the death of that monarch's 
qutin. He caufes the fever al honours to be paid her 
which mere due to her rank. He pajfes the Est.* 
phnates and Tygtis, and comes up with Darius. 
c Tbe famous battle of Arbela. 

Alexander having fettled the atFairs of Egypt, 
fet out from thence about fpring-time, to march into 
the eaft; ugainlt Darius. In his way through Palef- 

tina 

(<•) A, M. 3674.. Ant. J, C. 333. 



THS LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 121 

tine, he heard news which gave him great uneafinefs. 
At his going into Egypt, he had appointed Andro- 
machus, whom he highly efteemed, governor of Sy- 
ria and Paleftine. Andromachus coining to Samaria 
to fettle fome affairs in that country, the Samaritans 
mutinied - 3 and Petting fire to the houfe in which he 
was, burnt him alive. Alexander was highly exaf- 
perated againft them for this cruel action, and put to 
death all thofe who had any hand in it, banifhed 
the reft from the city of Samaria, fupplying their 
room with a colony of Macedonians, and divided 
the reft of their lands among the Jews* 

He made fome ftay in Tyre, to fettle the various 
affairs of the countries he left behind him, -and ad- 
vanced towards new conquefts. 

He was fcarce fet out, but an Eunuch brought 
word that Darius's confort was dead in child -bed. 
Hearing this, he returned back, and went into the 
the tent of Syfigambis, whom he found bathed in 
tears, and lying on the ground, in the mid ft of the 
young princeffes, who alio were weeping. Alexan- 
der confoled them in (o kind and tender a manner, 
as plainly (hewed that he himfelf was deeply and fin- 
cerely afflicted. He caufed her funeral obfequies to 
be performed with the utmoft fplendourand magni- 
ficence. 

Immediately after thofe folemnities were -over, 
Alexander fet out upon his march, and arri vet! with 
his whole army at Thapfachus, where he pifTVd a 
bridge that lay acrofs the Euphrates, and continued 
his journey towards the Tygris, where he expected 
to come up with the enemy. Darius had already 
made overtures of peace to him tw v\ but rinding 
a: laft that there was no hopes of thtr ir gone, 

L lefs 



122 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

unlefs he figned the whole empire to him, he there- 
fore prepared himftlf .^gain for battle. For this 
purpofe, he affembled in Babylon an army half as nu- 
merous again as that of IfTus, and marched it towards 
Nineveh -, his forces covered all the plains of Mefo- 
potamia. Advice being brought, that the enemy 
was not far off, he cavifed Satropates, colonel i 
cavalry, to advance at the head of a thoufand c 
horfe ; and likewife gave fix thoufand to Mazs 
governor of the province ; all of whom were to j. 
vent Alexander from eroding the river, and to lay 
wade the country through which that monarch was 
to pafs - 3 but he arrived too late. 

Of all the rivers of the eaft this is the moft rapid ; 
and not only a great number of rivulets mix in its 
waves, but thofe alfo drag along great ftones, fo that 
it is named Tygris, by reafon of its prodigious 
rapidity, an arrow being fo called in the Perfian 
tongue. Alexander founded thofe parts of the river 
which were ford able, and there the water, at the en- 
trance, came up to the horfes bellies. Having drawn 
up his infantry in the form of a half moon, and pott- 
ed his cavalry on the two wings, they advanced to 
the current of the water with no great difficulty, 
.. ! rying their arms over their head. The king 
walked on foot among the infantry, and was thefirft 
who appeared on the oppofite fhore, where he pointed 
out with his hand the ford to the foldiers. But it 
was with the greater!: difficulty they kept themfelves 
above water ; becaufe of the impetuofity of the 
ftream. At laft, they all paffed over that part of the 
ford where the water was fhalloweft, and the ftream 
lefs impetuous ; but with the lofs however of the 
greateft part of their baggage. 

The 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I 2 J 

The king having encamped two days near the 
river, commanded his foldiers to be ready for march- 
ing on the morrow -, but about nine or ten. in the 
evening, the moon, firft loll its light, and appeared 
afterwards quite fuliied, and, as it were tinctured 
with blood. Now as this happened juft before a 
great battle was going to be fought, the doubtful 
Juccefs of which, filled the army with furBcienc d\l'~ 
quietude, they wereiirfr [truck with a religious awe, 
and, being afterwards feized with fear, they cried our, 
" That heaven difplayed the marks of its anger -, 
" and that they were dragged againft the will of it, 
U to the extremities of the earth ; that rivers oppo- 
" fed their paffage ; that the (tars refufed to lend 
" their light ; and that they could now fee nothing 
cc but defarrs and folitu.de ; that merely to iatiM. 
<c the ambition of one man, fd many thoufands fliec: 
" their blood •, and that for a man who cofcfeemfitd 
" his own country, difowned his father, and pretend- 
Cf ed to pafs for a god," 

Thefe murmurs were rifing to an open infur- 
recti'on, when Alexander whom nothing could intim- 
idate, fummoned the officers of his army into his 
t^nt, and commanded fuch of the Egyptian 
ibothfayers as were bed fkilled in the know- 
ledge of the ftars to declare what they thought 
of this ph««omenon. Thefe knew very well the 
natural caufes of eclipfes of the moon - s but, without 
entering into phyfical enquiries, they contented 
themfelves with faying, that the fun was on the fide 
of the Greeks, and the moon on that of the Peril ans ; 
and that whenever it fuffered an eclipfe, it always 
threatened the latter with fome grievous calamity, 
whereof they mentioned feveral examples, all wh ; ca 

they- 



I£4 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

they gave as true and indifputable. Superftitiorr has-, 
a furprifmg afcendant over the minds of the vulgar. 
How headftiong and Lnconfiftent foever they may 
be, yet if they are once flruck with a vain image of 
religion, they will fooner obey foothfayers than their 
leaders. The anfwer made by the Egyptians being 
difperfed among the foldiers,. it revived their hopes 
and courage. 

The king, purpofely to take advantage of this 
ardour, began his march after midnight. On his 
right hand lay the river Tygris, and on his left the 
mountains called Gordyasi. At day- break the fcouts 
whom he had fent to view the enemy,, brought word 
that Darius was marching towards him ; upon which 
he immediately drew up his forces in battle-array, 
and fet himfelf at their head. However, it was af- 
terwards found, that they were only a detachment of 
a thoufand horfe that were going upon difcoveries, 
wd which foon retired to the main army. Never- 
thelefs, news was brought the king, that Darius was 
now but an hundred and fifty * ftadia from the place 
where they were. 

Not long before this, fame letters had been inter- 
cepted, by which Darius fol-icited the Grecian fol- 
diers either to kill or betray Alexander. Nothing 
can reflect fo great an odium on the memory of this 
prince, as an attempt of that kind ; an attempt fa 
abject and black, and more than once repeated. 
Alexander was in doubt with himfelf, whether it 
would be proper for him to read thefe letters in a full 
aflfemblv, relying as much on the affection and fide- 
lity of the Greeks, as On that of the Macedonians. 

But 

# Sgvtn or eight leagues.. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I 1$ 

But Parmenio difluaded him from it ; declaring 
that it would be dangerous even to awake fuch, 
thoughts in the minds of foldiers ; that one only was 
furHcient to ftrike the blow j and that avarice was 
capable of attempting the molt enormous crimes. 
The king followed this prudent counfel, and or- 
dered his army to march forward. 

Although Darius had twice fued in vain for peace, 
and imagined that he had nothing to truft to but to 
his arms $ neverthelefs, being overcome by the ad- 
vantageous circumftances which had been told him 
concerning Alexander's. tendernefs and humanity to-* 
wards his family, hedifpatched ten of his chief rela- 
tions, who were to offer, him frem conditions of 
peace more ad vantageous. than the former ; and CO 
thank him for the kind treatment he had given his 
family. Darius had, in the former propofals, given 
him up all the provinces as far as the river Halys ; 
but now he added the feveral territories fituated be- 
tween the Hellefpont and the Euphrates, that is, dl 
he already porTcfled. Alexander made the following 
anfvver : cc Tell your fovereign, that thanks, -between 
" perfons who make war againft each other, ar*e iu~ 
'" perfiaousi and that, in cafe I^behaved with c;e- 
st mency towards his family, it was for my own fake,and 
<f not for his ; in confequence of mv own iacji.ru- 
fr tion, and not topleafe him. Toinfjlt the unhappy 
<£ is a thing to me unknown. I do not ai- 
" tack eithei* prifoners or women, and turn mv rage 
" againft fuch only as are armed for the fight. 
" Did Darius fue for peace iri a fincere viewy i then 
iC would debate on what is to be done - y but fince he 
"" flill continues by letters and by money, to fpirit up 

L 2 * my 



cc 



.6 TlfE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

my foldiers to betray me, and my friends ta mur- 
der me, I therefore am determined to purfue him 
with the utmoft vigour j and that not as enemy, 
but a poifoner, and an affaflin. It, indeed be- 
comes him, to offer to yield up to me what I am 
poMeflfedof! Would he be fatisfied wiih ranking 
"■ himfelf as a fecond to me, without pretending to 
<c be my equal, I might pofiibly then hear him. 
<f Tell him that the world will not permit two funs, 
f< nor twofovereigns. Let him therefore choofeeither 
*■* to furrender to-day, or to fight me to-morrow, and 
tf not flatter himfelf with the hopes of obtaining bet- 
r * ter fuccefs than he has hitherto had." 

The ambaffadors having leave to depart, returned 
back and told Darius that he muft prepare for bat- 
tie. The latter. pitched his camp near a village 
Gaugemala, and the river Bumela, in a plain ar a 
confiderable di (lance from Arbela. He had be- 
fore levelled the fpot which he pitched upon for the 
field of battle* in order that his chariots and cavalry 
might have full room to move in 5 r.e col le cling, 
that his righting in the ftraits of Cilicia had loft him 
the battle fought there. At the fame time, he had 
prepared * crows' feet to annoy the enemy's horie. 

Alexander, upon hearing this news, continued 
four days in the place he then was, to reft his army, 
and fin rounded his camp with trenches and palifades;. 
for he was determined to leave all his baggage, and 
the ufelefs foldiers in it* and march rjie remainder 
againft the enemy, with nd other equipage than the 
arms they carried. Accordingly, he fet out about 

nine 

* Crows' fett is an injirument compofed of iron fpikes. SeveraJ 
of tbifi are laid in fields through which the cavalry art to mar{k* 
in urdtr that they may run into the burtisfttU 



THE LIFE OF AL£XA¥DER. I 27 

pine in the evening, in order to fight Darius at day- 
break ; who, upon this advice,, had drawn up his 
army in order of battle. Alexander alib marched 
in battle-array -, for both armies were within two or 
three leagues of each other. When he was arrived; 
at the mountains, where he could difcover the ene- 
my's whole army, he halted ; and, having affem- 
bled his general officers,, as well Macedonians as for- 
eigners, he debated whether they fhould engage 
immediately, or pitch their camp in that place. 
The latter opinion being followed, becaufe it was 
judged proper for them to view the field of battle, 
and the manner in which the enemy was drawn up, 
the army encamped in the fame order in which he 
had marched ; during which Alexander, at the head 
of his infantry, lightly armed, and his royal regi- 
ments, marched' round the plain in which that battle 
was to be fought. 

Being returned, Jie af^embled his general officers 
a fecond time, and told them, that there was no occa- 
fion for his making a fpeech, becaufe their courage and 
great actions were alone fufficient to excite them to 
glory ;. that he defiredthem only to reprefentto the 
foldiers, that they were not to fight, on this occa- 
lion, for Phoenicia or Egypt, but for all Alia, which- 
would be poiTefled by hkn who fhould conquer $ 
and that, after having gone through fo many pro- 
vinces ; and left behind them fo great a number of 
rivers and mountains,, they could fecure their retreat 
no otherwife than by gaining a complete victory. 
After this fpeech, he ordered them to take fome re- 
pofe. 

It is faid, that Parmenio advifed him to attack the 
snemy in the night-time, alledging that they might 

eafily 



128 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

eafi'lybe defeated, if fallen upon by furprife, and iri s 
the dark ; but the king anfwered fo loud, that all 
prefent might hear him, that it did not become Al- 
exander to (leal a victory, and therefore he was re- 
folved to fight and conquer in broad day-light. Da- 
rius, fearing he-mould be attacked at unawares, becaufd 
he had not entrenched himfelf, obliged" his foldiers 
to continue the whole night under arms, which pro- 
ved of the higheft prejudice to him in the engage- 
ment. 

Alexander, who in the crifis of affairs ufed always 
to confult foothfayers, obferving, very exactly, what- 
ever they enjoined, in order to obtain the favour of 
the gods, finding himfelf upon the point of fighting 
a battle, the iuccefs of which was to give empire to 
the conqueror^ fen t for Ariffander, in whom herepo- 
fed the greateft confidence; He then fhut himfelf 
up with the ibothfiyer, to make fome fecret facrifices ; 
and afterwards offered up victims to Fear, which 
he doubtlefs did to prevent his army from being 
feized with dread, at the fight of the formidable 
army of Darius. The foothfayer, dreffed in his vefb 
ments, holding vervain, with his head veiled, firil 
repeated the prayers which the king was to v addrefs 
to Jupiter, to Minerva, and to Victory. The whole 
being ended, Alexander went to bed, to repofe him- 
felf the remaining part of the night. A's he revolved 
in his mind, not without fome emotion, the confe- 
quence of the battle, which, w-as upon the point of 
being fought, he could not deep immediately. But 
his body being oppreffed, in a manner, by the anxie- 
ty of his mind, he flept foundlv the whole nig! it; 
contrary to his urual cuftom : fo that when his generals 
were affembled at day- break before his tent, to re- 
ceive 



TliE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 1 20 

ceive his orders, they were greatly furpri fed to find 
that he was not awake; upon which, they themfelves 
commanded the foldiers to take fome refrefhment. 
Parmenio having at lalt awaked him, and Teeming 
fucprifed to find him in fo calm and fweet a fleep, 
is he was going to fight a battle, in which his 
.tune lay at ftake : How could it be pofli- 
.-.ander, for us not to be calm, ilnce the 
coming to deliver himfelf into our hands ? 
•rely he took up his arms, mounted his 
horfe, and rode up and down the ranks, exhorting 
the troops to behave gallantly, and, if poftible, to 
furpafs their ancient fame, and the glory they had 
hitherto acquired. Soldiers, on the day of battle, 
imagine they fee the fate of the engagement painted 
in the face of their general. As for Alexander, he 
had never appeared fo calm* fo gay, nor fo refolute. 
The ferenity *nd fecurity which they obferved in 
him, were in a manner fo many affurances of the vic- 
tory. 

There was a great difference between the two ar- 
mies with refpect to numbers, but much more fo 
with regard to courage. That of Darius confuted at 
lead* of fix hundred thoufand foot, and forty thou- 
fand horfe ; and the other of no more than forty 
thoufand foot, and feven or eight thoufand horfe : 
But the latter was all fire and ftrength ; whereas, on 
the fide of the Perfians, it was a prodigious afTem- 
blage of men, not of foldiers ; an empty phantom 
rather than a real army. 

Both fides were difpofed in very near the fame ar- 
ray. The forces were drawn up in two lines, the 

L, 3 cavalry 

* According to Jevnal bijiorians it amount id to upwards of a 
Million of mtn* 



130 THE LIFE ®F ALEXANDER. 

cavalry on the two wings, and the infantry in the 
middle -, the one and the other being under the par- 
ticular conduct of the chiefs of each of the different 
nations that compofed them -, and commanded in 
general, by the principle crown-officers. Thefronc 
of the battle (under Darius) was covered with two 
hundred chariots, armed with fcythes, and with fif- 
teen elephants, the king taking his poll in the centre 
of the firft line, Befides the guards, which were the 
flower of his forces, he alio had fortified himfelf with 
the Grecian infantry, whom he had drawn up near 
his perfon ; believing this body only capable of op- 
pofing the Macedonian phalanx, as his army fpread 
oyer a much greater fpace of ground than that of the 
enemy, he intended to furround, and to charge them, 
at o.qe and the fame time, both in front and flank. 

But Alexander had guarded againft this, by giving 
orders to the commanders of the iecond line, that in 
cafe they mould be charged behind, to face about 
to that fide ; or elfe to draw up their troops in form 
of a gibbet, and to cover the wings, in cafe the ene- 
my mould charge them in flank. He had polled, in 
the front of his firft line, the greater! part of his bow- 
men, flmgers, hurlers of javelins, in order that thefe 
might make head againft the chariots armed with 
fcythes ; and frighten the horfes, by difcharging at 
them a fhower of arrows, javelins, and (tones. 
Thofe who led on the wings, were ordered to' extend 
them as wide as poflible j but in fuch a manner as- 
not to weaken the" main body. As for the baggage 
and the captives, among whom were Darius's mother 
and children, they were left in the camp, under a 
fmall guard. Parmenio commanded, as he had al- 
ways done, the left wing, and Alexander the right. 

When 






E LIFE OF ALEXANDER. IJI 

armies came in view, Alexander, 
fhown the feveral places where the 
>ere hid, extended more and more to- 
ht to avoid them $ and the Perfians ad- 
;rd in proportion. Darius, being afraid 
che Macedonians mould draw him from the 
fpot of ground he had levelled, and carry him into 
anot er that was rough and uneven, commanded the 
cavalry in his left wing, which fpread much farther 
than that of the enemy's right, to march right for- 
ward, and wheel about upon the Macedonians in 
flank, to prevent them from extending their troops 
further. Then Alexander difpatched againft them 
the body of horfe in his fervice commanded by Me- 
nidas, but, as thefe were not able to make head 
againft the enemy, becaufe of their prodigious num- 
bers, he reinforced the... with the Pasoneans, whom 
Aretas commanded, and with the foreign cavalry. * 
Befides the advantage of numbers, they had that 
alio of their coats of mail, which fecured themfelves. 
and their horfes much more. Alexander's cavalry 
was prodigioufly annoyed : However, they marched 
to the charge with great bravery, and at laft put 
them to flight. 

Upon this, the Perfians oppofed the chariots 
armed with fcythes againft the Macedonian Phalanx, 
in order to break it, but with lijctle fuccefs. The 
noife which the foldiers, who were lightly armed, 
made, by ftriking their fwords againft their bucklers, 
I and the arrows which flew on all fides, frighted the 
horfes, and made a great number of them turn back 
againft their own troops. Others, laying hold of the 

horfes 

* Seme relate that the Barbarians gave way at firjl t but fcen 
returned to the charge. 



IJ2 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

horfes bridles, pulled the riders down, and cut them 
to pieces. Part of the chariots drove between the 
battalions, which opened to make way for them, as 
they had been ordered to do, by which means they 
did little or no execution* 

Alexander, feeing Darius fet his whole army in 
motion in order to charge him, employed a ftrata- 
gem to encourage his foldiers. When the battle 
was at the hotteit, and the Macedonians were in the 
greater!: danger, Ariftander, the foothfayer, cloathed 
in his white robes, holding a. branch of laurel in his 
hand, advances among the combatants as he had 
been inftructed by the king ; and, crying that he 
faw an eagle hovering over Alexander's head (a fure 
omen of victory) he mowed with his finger the pre- 
tended bird to the foldiers ; who, relying upon the 
fincerity of the foothfayer, fancied they alfo faw it ; 
and thereupon renewed the attack with greater chear- 
fulnefs and aidour than ever. Then the king per- 
ceiving that Aretas (after having charged the caval- 
ry, and put them into diforder, upon their advancing 
to fur round his right wing) had. begun to break the 
foremoft ranks of the main body of the Barbarian 
army ; he marched after Aretas, with the Mower of 
his troops, r w hen he quite broke the enemy's left 
wing, which had already begun to give way ; and 
without purfuing the forces which he had thrown 
into diforder, he wheeled to the left, in order to fall 
upon the body in which Dariushad polled himfelf. 
1 he prefence of the two kings infpired both fides 
v vigour, Darius was mounted on a chariot, 
a inder on horfebaxk ; both furrounded with 

t ;; iuveft office;^ and foldiers, whofe only endea- 
vour was to f . e *;*e lives of their. refpe<ftive princes, 

at 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. IJJ 

at the hazard of their own. The battle was obfti- 
nate and bloody. Alexander, having wounded Da- 
rius's equerry with a javelin, the Perlians, as well as 
the Macedonians, imagined that the king was killed ; 
upon which the former, breaking aloud into the mod 
difmal founds, the whole army was feized with the 
gredteft confrernation. The relations of Darius,who 
were at his left hand, fled away with the guards, and 
fo abandoned the chariot ; but thofe who were on 
his right, took him into the centre of their body. 
Hiftorians relate, that this prince having drawn his 
fcimitar, reflected whether he ought not to lay vio- 
lent hands upon himfelf, rather than fly man igno- 
minious manner : But perceiving from his chariot 
that his foldiers (till fought, he was afhamed to for- 
fake them ; and, as he was divided between hope 
and defpair, the Perfians retired infenfibly, and 
thinned their ranks ; when it could no longer be 
called a battle, but a flaughter. The,n Darius, turn- 
ing about his chariot, fled with the reft ; and the 
conqueror was now wholly employed in purfuing 
him. 

Whilft all this was doing in the right wing of the 
Macedonians, where the victory was not doubtful ; 
the left wing, commanded by Parmenio, was in great 
danger. A detachment of the Perfian, Indian and 
Parthian horfe, which were the bed in all the Perfian 
army, having broke through the infantry on the left, 
advanced to the very baggage. The moment the 
captives faw them arrive in the camp, they armed 
themfelves with every thing that came firft to- hand, 
and, reinforcing their cavalry, rufiied upon the Ma- 
cedonians who were now charged both before and be- 
.hind. They, at the fame time, told Syfigambis, 

M that 



IJ4 THE LI ^E OF ALEXANDER. 

that Darius had won the battle (for this they believ- 
ed) ; that the whole baggage was plundered, r 
that fhe was now going to recover her liberty. / 
this princefs, who was a woman of great wifdom, 
though this news affected her in the ftrongeft man- 
ner, could not eafily give credit to it ; and being 
unwilling to exafperate, by too hafty a joy, a con- 
queror, who had treated her with fo much humanity, 
me did not difcover the lead emotion ; did not once 
change countenance, nor let drop a fingle word ; 
but in her ufual pofture, calmly waited till the event 
mould denounce her fate. - 

Parmenio, upon the firft report of this attack, had 
difpatched a mefFenger to Alexander, to acquaint 
him with the danger to which the camp was expofed, 
and to receive his orders. c< Above all things (faid 
€t the prince) let him not weaken his main body ; 
" let him not mind the baggage, but apply himfelf 
<c wholly to the engagement -, for victory will 
Xi not only reftore us our own pofleffions, but alfo 
i€ give thofe of the enemy into our hands." The 
general officers, who commanded the infantry which 
formed the centre of the fecond line, feeing the ene^ 
my were going to m kethemfelvesm afters of i he camp 
and baggagemade a half-turn totheright,.inobedience 
ro the order* which had been given, and fell upon 
the Perfians behind, many of whom were cut to pie- 
ces, and the reft obliged to retire ; but as thefe were 
horfe, the Macedonian foot could not follow them. 
Soon after, Parmenio himfelf was expofed to much 
greater peril. Mazasus, having rufhed upon him with 
all his cavalry, charged the Macedonians in fiank, and* 
began to iurround them. Immediately Parmenio fent 

Alexander 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 1 35 

Alexander advice of the danger he was in ; declaring, 
that in cafe he were not immediately fuccoured, in 
would be impofllble for him to keep his foldiers to- 
gether. The prince was actually purfuing Darius, 
and, fancying he was almoft come up with him, rode 
with the utmoft ipeed. He flattered himfelf, that 
he fhould absolutely put an end to the war, in cafe 
he fhould but feize ^* perfon. But, upon this news, 
be turned about, in order to fuccour his left wing ; 
fbuddering with rage to fee his prey and victory torn 
in this manner from him ; and complaining againil 
fortune, foF having favoured Darius more in his 
flight, than himfelf in the purfuit of that monarch. 
Alexander, in his march, met the enemy's hoife 
who had plundered the baggage ; ail which \yerfc re- 
turning in good order, and retiring back, not as fol- 
diers who had been defeated, but aimoft as if they 
had gained the victory. And now the battle be- 
came more obftinate than before ; for, the Barbari- 
ans marching clofe in columns, not in order of bat- 
tle but that of a march, it was very difficult to break 
through them ; and they did not amufe themielves 
with throwing javelins, nor with wheeling about, ac- 
cording to their ufual cuftom -, but man engaging 
againft man, each did all that lay in his power to 
unhorfe his enemy. Alexinder loft rhreefcore of 
his guards in this attack. Hephasftion, Gcenus, 

I and Menidas, were wounded in it, however he tri- 
umphed on this occafion, and all the Barbarians were 
cut to pieces, except fuch as forced their way through 
his fquadrons. 

During this, news had been brought Mazasiis that 

' Darius was defeated ; upon which, being greai 
alarmed and dejected by the ill fuccefs qf;that 



*$6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

arch, though the advantage was entirely on his fide, 
he ceafed to charge the enemy, who were now in dis- 
order, fo brifkly as before. Parmenio could not con- 
ceive how it came to pafs, that the battle, which be- 
fore was carried on fo warmly, (hould flacken on a 
ftidden : However, like an able commander, who 
feizes every advantage, and who employs his utmoft 
endeavours to infpire his fold jr. s with frefh vigour, 
he o'bferved to them, that theterror which fpread 
throughout the whole army, was the forerunner of 
their defeat, and fired them with the notion how 
glorious it would be for them to put the laft hand 
to the victory. Upon his exhortations, they re- 
covered their former hopes and bravery ; when, 
transformed into other men, they gave their horfes 
the rein, and charged the enemy with Co much fury,. 
2s threw them into the greateft diforder, and obli- 
ged them to fly. Alexander came up that inftant, 
and overjoyed to find the fcale turned in his favour, 
n^d the enem-y entirely defeated, he renewed (in 
concert ^nh Parmenio) the purfuit of Darius. He 
rode as fir as Arbela, where he fancied he fhouli 
bine up with that monarch and all his baggage j 
nut Darius had only juft pafTed by it, and left his 
treafure a prey to the enemy, with his bow and 
fhieid. 

Such was the fuccefs of this famous battle, which 
gave empire to the conqueror. According to Arri- 
an, the Perfians loft three hundred thouiand men, 
befides thofe w ho were taken prifoners ; which at 
leaft, is a proof that the lefs was very great on their 
fide. That of Alexander (q) was very inconfider- 
able, he not lofing, according to the laft mentioned 

author, 

(q) A. M 3674. Ant. J. C. 330. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. L$] 

author, twelve hundred men, mod of whom were 
horfe. This engagement was fought in the month 
of * October, about the fame time, two years before, 
that the battle of Iflus was fought. As Gaugamela, 
in AiTyria, the fpot where the two armies engaged, 
was a fnail place of very little note, this was called 
the battle of Arbela, that city being neareft to the 
fkid of battle. 



Sxct. IX. Alexander pojfejfes him f elf of Arbela, 
Babylon, $ufa> Perfepolis ; and finds immenje rich- 
is in thofe cities. In the heat of drinking he jets 
fire to the Palace of Perfepolis* 

Alexander's firft care, after his obtaining ih?i 

:>ory, was to offer magnificent facrifice> to the gods 

.by way of thankfgiving. He afterwards rewarded 

:h as had fignalized themfelves remarkably in bac- 

: ; bellowed riches upon them, houfes, empi< 

•ments, and governments. But, being defirous of 

expreffing m jtc particularly his gratitude to the 

Greeks, for having appointed him generalifiimo 

againlt the PerlLns, he gave order, for abolifhir g 

the feveral tyrannical institutions that had ftarted 

up in Greece -> that the cities mould be reilored to 

their liberties, with ail their rights and privileges. 

Darius, aft^r his defeat, having but very fevy at- 
tendants, had. rode towards the river Ly^us. After 
crofling it, feveral ad vifed him to break dov n t:,e 
M 2 bridges, 

* The month, called by the Grteks Boedromion, ayictrs fartiy 
to 6ur month of Qiiobtr* 



J3° THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

bridges, becaufe the enemy purfued him. But he 
made this generous anfwer, " That life was not fo 
'* dear to him, as to make him defire to preserve ic 
if by the deftrudtion of fo many thoufands ofhisfub- 
" je&s and faithful allies, who, by that means, would 
* l be delivered up to the mercy of the enemy ; that 
" they had as much right to pa-fs over this bridge as 
<c their fovereign, and confequently that it ought to 
* c be as open to them/' After riding a great num- 
ber of leagues full fpeed, he arrived at midnight at 
Arbela. From thence he fled towards Media, over 
the Armenian mountains, followed by a great num- 
ber of the nobility, and a few of his guards. The 
reafon of his going that way was, his fuppofing- that 
Alexander would proceed towards Babylon and Sufa,, 
there to enjoy the fruits of his victory ; befides, a 
numerous army could not purfue him by this road ;, 
whereas,, in the o f her, hories and chariots might ad- 
vance with great eafe ; not to mention that the foil? 
was very fruitful. 

A few daj s after Arbela Surrendered to Alexander,, 
who found in it a great quantity of furniture belong- 
ing to the crown, rich clothes, and other precious- 
moveables, with four rhoufand talents (about. 
77 5, cool.) and all the riches of the army, which 
Darius had left there at his fetting out againft Aiex- 
ander,.*as- was before obferved. But he was foon> 
obliged to leave that place, becaufe of the difeafe* 
that fp read in his camp, occasioned by the infection 
of the dead bodies which covered all the field of 
battle. Thisprince advanced therefore over the 
plains towards Babylon, and, after four days march, 
arrived at Memnis, where, in a cave, is feen the cel- 
ebrated fountain which throws out fo vaft a quanti- 
fy 



< 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 1 J$» 

tj of bitumen, that, we are told, it was ufed as ce- 
ment in building the walls of Babylon. 

When Alexander was got near Babylon, Mazaeus, 
who had retired thither after the battle of Arbela, 
furrendered himfelf, with his children, who were 
grown up,, and gave the city into his hands. The 
king was very well pleaied with his arrival ; for he 
would have met with great difficulties in befiegircg 
a city of iuch importance, and fo well provided with, 
every thing. Befides his being a perfon of great 
quality, and very brave, he had alio acquired great 
honour in the lait battle ; and others might have 
been prompted, from the example he fet them, to 
imitate him. Alexander entered the city at the head, 
of bis whole army, as if r?e had been marching to a. 
battle. The walls of Babylon were lined with peo- 
p e, notwithstanding tne greateft part of the citizens 
were gone out before, from the impatient defire they 
had to fee their new fovereign, whofe renown had 
far outftrbed his march. Bagophanes, governor of 
the fortrefs, and guardian or the trealure, unwilling 
to difcoverlefs zeal than Mazaeus., (trev.ed the ftreets 
with flowers, and raifed on both fides of the way 
filver alters, which fmoaked not only with frankin- 
cenfe, but the mod fragrant perfumrs of every kind. 
Lad of all came the prefents wnich were to be made 
the king, viz. herds of cattle, and a great number of 
horfes; as a«o 1 crs, wh;ch were car- 

ried in cages. After thele the Magi waiked, Pinging 
hymns after the manner of their country ; then the 
Chaldeans accompanied by the Babyionifh footh- 
s and mufician* : it was cuftomary for the lat- 
ter to ring the praifes of their kings 1 
ir<enti> x and the Chaldeans to obierve the motion 

of 



140 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

of the planets, and the viciftrtude of feafons. The 
rear was brought up by the Babylonifh cavalry, 
which both men and horfes were fo fumptuous, that 
imagination can fcarce reach their magnificence. 
The king caufed the people to walk after his infan- 
try, and himfelf, furrounded with his guards, and 
feated on a chariot, entered the city -, and from 
thence rode to the palace, as in a kind of triumph. 
The next day he took a view of all DariusY money 
and moveables. Of the monies he found in Baby- 
lon, he gave, by way of extraordinary recompence, 
to each Macedonian horfe men, fix minae, (about 
r ifteen pounds ;) to each mercenary horfe-man two 
minas, (about five pounds ;) to every Macedonian, 
foot foldier two minse ; aftd to every one of the reft 
two months of their ordinary pay. He gave orders, 
purfuant to the advice of the Magi, with whom he 
had feveral conferences, for the rebuilding the tem- 
ples which Xerxes had demoliihed ; and, among 
others, that of Belus, who was in greater veneration 
at Babylon than any other deity. He gave the gov- 
ernment of the province to Masasus, and the com- 
mand of the forces he left there to Apollodorus of 
&mphipolis. 

Alex nder, in the midft of the hurry and tumult 
©f war, ftill preferved a love for the fciences. He 
u fed often to converge with the Chaldeans, who had 
always applied themfelves to the ftudy of aitronomy 
from its origin, and gained great fame by their 
knowledge in it. They prefented him with agro- 
nomical obfervations taken by their predeceiTors- 
during thefpace of 1903 years, which cenfequen: 
went as far backward as the age of AimroJ. 

The 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I4I 

The king redded longer in Babylon than he had 
done in any other city, which was of great prejudice 
to the difcipiine of his forces. The people, even 
from a religious motive, abandoned themfelves to 
pieafures, to voluptuoufnefs, and to the mod infa- 
mous excelTes ; nor did ladies, though of the highefl 
quality, obferve any decorum, or (bow the lead re- 
fcrve in their immoral actions, but gloried therein, fo 
f-r from endeavouring to conceal them, or blufhing at 
their enormitv. It muft be confefTcd, that this army 
of foidiers, which had triumphed over Afia, after hav- 
ing thus enervated themfelves, and rioted, as it were 
in the floth and luxury of the city of Babylon, for 
thirty- four days together, would have been fcarce 
able to complete their exploits, had they been oppo- 
fed by ah enemy. But, as they were re-in forced from 
time to time, thefe irregularities were not fo vifible ; 
for Amyntas brought fix thoufand foot and five hun- 
dred Macedonian horfe, which were fent by Antipa- 
ter j and fix hundred Thracian horfe, with three 
thoufand five hundred foot of the fame nation ; be- 
fides four thoufand mercenaries from Peloponnelus, 
with near four hundred horfes. 

The above-mentioned Amyntas had alio brought 
the king fifty Macedonian youths, fons to nobiemen 
of the higheft quality in the country, to ferve as his 
guards. The youths in queftron waited upon him 
at table, brought him his horfes when in the field, 
attended upon him in parties of hunting, and kept 
guard at the door of his apartment by turns ; and 
thck were the firft (leps to the highefl. employments 
both in the army and the State. 

After Alexander had left Babylon he marched to- 
wards Sufa, where he arrived in twenty days. As, 
M3 he 



14- THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

he came near it, Abutites, governor of the province, 
fcnt his Ton to meet him, with apromiie to furrendcr 
the city into his hands ; whether he was prompted to 
this from his own inclination, or did it in obedience to 
the orders of Darius, to amufe Alexander with the 
hopes of plunder, the king gave this young noble- 
man a very gracious reception, who attended him as 
far as the river Choafpes, the waters of which are fo 
famous, upon account of their exquifite tafte. (m) 
The kings of Perfia never drank of any other 5 and 
whitherfoever they went a quantity of it, after having 
been put over the fire, was alw ys carried after them 
in filver vafes- It was here Abutites came to wait 
upon him, bringing prefents worthy of a king ; among 
which were dromedaries of incredible fwiftnefs, and 
twelve elephants which Darius had fent for from In- 
dia. Being come into the citv, he took immenfe 
fums out of the treafury, with fifty thoufand *talents 
of filver in ore and ingots, befides moveables, and a 
thoufand other things of infinite value. This wealth 
was the produce of the exactions impofed for fever- 
al centuries upon the common people, from whole 
fweat and poverty immenfe revenues were raifed. 
The Perfian monarchs fancied they had amafled them 
for their children and pofterity ; but, in one hour, 
they fell into the hands of a foreign king, who was 
able to make a right ufe of them -, for Alexander 
fcremed to be merely the guardian or truftee of the 
immenfe riches which he 'found hoarded up in Per- 
fia 1 and applied them to no other ufe than the re- 
warding of merit and courage. 

Among 

* About /even millions five hundred thoufand pound*. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I43 

Amone: other things, there was found * five thou- 
fand quintals of Hermione f purple, the nncft in the 
world, which had been treafuring up there during 
the fpace of one hundred and ninety years ; not- 
withstanding which, its beauty and luftre was no 
ways diminished. 

Here likewife was found part of the rarities which 
Xerxes had brought from Greece ; and, among 
others, the brazen (latues of Harrnodius and Arif- 
togiton, which Alexander fent afterwards to Athens^ 
where they were (landing in Arrian's time. 

The king being refolved to march into Perfia, 
appointed Archilaus governor of the city of Sufa, 
with a garrilbn of three thoufand men 4 Mazarus, one 
of the lords of his court, was made governor of the 
citadel, with a thoufand Macedonian foldiers, who 
could not follow him by reafon of their great age. 
He gave the government of Sufi an a to Abutites. 

He left Darius's mother and children in Sufa, and 
having received from Macedonia a great quantity of 
purple flufFs and rich habits, made after the fafhion 
of the country, he prefented them to Syfigambis, 
together with the artificers who had wrought them ; 
for he paid her every kind of honour, and loved her 
as tenderly as if me had been his mother. He like- 
wife commanded the meffengers to tell her, that in 
cafe me fancied thofe {luffs, (he might make her grand- 
children learn the art of weaving them, by way of 
amufement ; and to give them as prefents to whom- 
soever they fliould think proper. At thefe words, 

the 

* The reader *vttt have an idea of the prodigicus value of this, 
*u.hin he is izid. that this purple <was Jold at the rate of an hundred 
ix/rts a pound* -fbe quintal is an hundred 'weight of Paris, 

f Hermione was a atj ofrfrgolis, where the- bejl purple was died. 



144 THE LIFE 0F ALEXANDER, 

the tears which fell from her eyes /hewed but too 
evidently how greatly (he was difpleafed at thefe 
gifts ; the working in wool being confidered by the 
Pcrfian women as the higheft ignominy, "fhofe 
who carried thefe prefents having told the king that 
Syfigambis was verv much difTatisfied, he thought 
.himfelf obliged to make an apology for what he had 
done, and adminifter fome confolation to her. Ac- 
cordingly, he paid her a vifit, when he fpoke thus : 
" Mother, the fluff in which you fee me clothed, 
u was not only a gift of my (ifters, but wrought by 
" their fingers. Hence I beg you to believe, that 
<c the cultom of my country mi fled me ; and do not 
<c confider that as an infult, which was owing en- 
<c tirely to ignorance." I believe I have not, as 
<( yet, done any thing which I knew interfered with 
tc your manners and cuftoms. I was told, that 
cc among the Perfians, it was a fort of crime for a 
" fon to feat himfelf in his mother's prefence, with- 
" out fir ft obtaining her leave. You are fenfible 
cc how cautious I have always been in this particu- 
" lar; and that I never fit down, till you have flrft 
cc laid your commands upon me to do {o. And 
cc every time that you was going to fall proftrate be- 
Cf fore me, I only afk you, whether I (hould fuffer 
ff it ? As the higheft teftimony of the veneration I 
cc have for you, I always called you by the tender 
<c name of mother, though this belongs properly to 
cc Olympias only, to whom I owe my birth." 

Alexander, having taken his leave of Syfigambis, who 
now was extremely well fatisfied, arrived on the 
banks of a river, called by the inhabitants Pafi Ti- 
gris. X Having crofted it with nine thoufand foot, 

and 

X This river differs from the Tigris* 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 14$ 

and three thoufand horfe, confiding of Agrians, as 
well as Grecian mercenaries, and a reinforcement 
of three thoufand Thracians, he entered the country 
of the Uxii. This region lies near Sufa, and ex- 
tends to the frontiers of Perfia ; a narrow pafs onljr 
lying between it and Sufiana. Medathes com- 
manded this pmvin.ee. This man w^s not a tim*> 
ferver, nor a follower of fortune ; but, faithful to 
his fovereign, he refolved to hold out to the 1 aft ex- 
tremity 5 and, for this purpofe, had withdrawn into 
his own city, which flood in the midft of craggy 
rocks, and was furrounded with precipices. Having 
been forced from thence, he retired into the citadel, 
whence the befieged fent thirty deputies to Alexander, 
to fue for quarter ; which they obtained, at laft, by 
the interceffion of Syfigambis. The king not only 
pardoned Madathes, whO^asa near relation of that 
princefs, but likew T ife fet all the captives, and thole 
who had furrendered themfelves, at liberty -, per- 
mitted them to enjoy their feveral rights and privi- 
leges ; would not fuffer the city to be plundered, 
but let them plough their lands without paying any 
tax or tribute. Could Syfigambis have poffibly ob- 
tained more from her own ion on this occafion, had 
he been the victor ? 

The Uxii being fubdued, Alexander gave part of 
his army to Parmenio, and commanded him to march 
it through the plain; whilft himfelf at- the head of 
his light armed troops, crofTed the mountains, which 
ex ;end as far as Perfia. The fifth day he arrived 
at the pafs of Sufa. Ariobarzanes, with four thou- 
fand foot and feven hundred horfe, had taken pof- 
fefTion of thofe rocks which were craggy on all fidds, 
and pofted the Barbarians at the fummit, out of the 

N reach 



I46 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

reach of arrows. He alio had built a wall in thofe 
paffes, and encamped his forces under it. As foon 
Alexander advanced, in order to attack him, the 
Barbarians rolled from the top of the mountains, 
ftones of a prodigious fize, which failing from rock 
to rock, nutted forward with the greater violence, 
and at pr.ee crufhed to pieces whole bands of fol- 
dieps. The king, being very much terrified at this 
fight, commanded a retreat to be founded ; and it 
was with the utmoft grief he faw himfelf not only 
flopped at this pafs, but deprived of all hopes of 
ever being able to force it. 

Whilft he was revolving the fe gloomy thoughts, a 
Grecian prifoner furrendered himfelf to Alexander, 
with a promife to Conduct him to the top of the 
mountain by another way. The king accepted of 
the offer, when, leaving, the fuperintendance of the 
camp and of the army to Craterus, he commanded 
him to caufe a great number of fires to be lighted, 
in order that the Barbarians might thereby be more 
flrongly induced to believe, that Alexander was there 
in perfon. After this, taking fome chofen troops 
with him, he fetout, going through all the by-ways, 
as his guide directed. But, befides that thefe paths 
were very craggy, and the rocks fo flippery, that 
their feet would fcarce (land upon them ; the 
foldiers were al/o very much diftrefled by the fnows 
which the winds had brought together, and which- - 
were fo high, that the men fell into them, as into fo 
many ditches ; and when their comrades endeavoured 
co draw them out they themfelves would likewife link 
into them,, not to mention that their fears were great- 
\y wcreaied by the horrors of the night, by their be- 
ing in an unknown country, and conducted by a 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I47 

guide, whofe fidelity was doubtful. After having 
gone through a great number of difficulties and 
dangers, they at lair, got to the top of the mountain. 
Then going down, .they difcovered the enemy's 
corps-de-garde, and appeared behind them, i\vord ift 
hand, at a time when they lead expected it. Such- 
as made the lead defence, who were but few,- w re 
cut to pieces ; by which means the cries of the 
ing on one fide, and on the other the fright of t 
-who were flying zo their main body, fpre&rt Co 
a terror, that they fled, without ftriking a bk>>-- 
this noife Craterus advanced, as Alexander had 
commanded at his going away, and feized the pats, 
which till then had refilled- his attacks ; and, at the 
fame time, Philotus advanced forwards by another 
way, with Amyntas, Ccenus, and Polyfperchon, and 
broke quite through the Barbarians, Who now were 
attacked on every iide. The greater!: part of them 
were cut to pieces, and thofe who fled, fell into pre- 
cipices. Ariobarzanes, with part of the cavalry, 
efcaped by flying over the mountains. 

Alexander, from an eirecl: of the good fortune, 
which conflantly attended him in all his underta- 
kings, having extricated himfelf happily out of the 
danger to which he was fo lately ex poled, marched 
immediately towards Perfia. Being on the road, he 
received letters fromTiridates, governor of Periepo- 
lis, which informed him, that the inhabitants of that 
city, upon the report of his advancing towards him, 
were determined to plunder Darius's treafures, with 
which he was intruded, and therefore that it was ne- 
ceffary for him to make all the hade imaginable to 
feize them hirhfelf ; that he had only the * Araxes to 

crofs, 

**TUs is not the fame rivsr <witb that in drmsnica. 






I48 THE LTFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Crofs, after which the road was fmooth and eafy. 
Alexander, upon th;s news, leaving his infantry be- 
hind, marched the whole night at the head of his ca- 
valry, who were very much harrafled by the length and 
fwifmefs of this march, and palled the Anxes on a 
bridge, which, by his order, had been built fome 
days before. 

But, as l.e drew near the city, he perceived a h 
body of men, who exhibited a memorable example 
of the greateft mifcry. Theft were about four thou-. 
Ian a Greeks, very far advanced in years, who, having 
been made prifoners of war, had differed all the tor- 
ments which the Perfian tyranny could inflict. The 
hands of fome had been cut off, tht feet of others ; 
and others again had loft their nofes and ears: After 
which j having im pre fifed, by fire, barbarous charac- 
ters on their* faces, they had the inhumanity to keep 
■is (o .mny iau filing- (locks, with which they 
illy-. They appealed like fo many 
dver than like men ; ('pecch being almost 
thing, bv which they were known to be fuch. 
Alexander could not refrain from tears at this pghtj 
and, as they unanimoufly befought him to commif- 
Jerate their condition, he bid them with the utmoft 
tendcrnefs, not to defpond, and a flu red them, that 
they fhould again fee their wives and country. This 
propofal, which one might fuppofe fhould naturally 
have filled them with joy, perplexed them very much, 
various opinions arifing on that occafion, <c How 
" will it be poliible (faid fome of them) for us to 
" appear publickly before all Greece, in the dread- 
4 *' ful condition to which we are reduced - t a condition 
^ (till more fhameful than difTatisfadtory ? The bed: 
cf way to bear mifcry is to conceal it i and no coun- 

«« try 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, *49 

cf try is fo fweet to the wretched, as folitude, and an 
f< oblivion of their paft calamities. Befides, how 
<( will it be poilible for us to undertake fo long a 
" jotrrney ? Driven to a great diftance from Europe, 
<f banifhed to the mod remote parts of theeaft, worn 
<f out with age, and molt of our limbs maimed, can 
" we pretend to undergo fatigues, which have even 
" wearied a triumphant army ? The only thing that 
<c now remains for us, is to hide our mifery, and to 
cc end our days among thofe, who are already fo ac- 
* cuftomed to our misfortunes." Others, in whom 
the love of their country extinguifhed all other fen- 
timents, reprefented, cc That the gods offered them 
*- f what they mould not even have dared to wifh,viz. 
" their country, their wives, their children, and all 
i: thofe things for whole fake men are fond of life, and 
tc defpife death. That they had long enough borne 
iZ the fad yoke of flavery -, and that nothing hap- 
* c pier could prefent itfelf than their being indulged 
i( the blifs of sroiras at laft to breathe their native 
<f air, to refume their ancient manners, laws, and 
" facrifices, and to die in preience of their wives and 
cc children. 5> 

However, the former opinion prevailed ; and ac- 
cordingly they befought the king to permit them to 
continue in a country where they liad fpent fo many 
. He granted their tequelt, and prefented 
each, of them* three thoufand drachmas 5 five men's 

;ts of clothes, and the fame number for women ; 
two couple of oxen to plough their hnds,.and corn 
to low them. He commanded the governor of the 
province not to fufler them ro be moltfted in any 
?nan ner, and ordered that they ihould be free from 

N 2 taxes 

* Aleut one hundred and fifty fuin-dt. 



55O THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 



3Br 



taxes and tributes of every kind. Such behaviour 
as this was truly royal. 

Alexander having called together, the next day, 
the generals of his army, repreiented to • them, 
<c That no city in the world had ever been more fa- 
" tal to the Greeks than Perfepolis, the ancient reS- 
" dence of the Perfian monarchs, and the capital of 
" their empire. For that it was from thence all 
cc thofe mighty armies poured, which had overflow- 
<c ed Greece ; and whence Darius, and afterwards 
* c Xerxes, had carried the firebrand of the mod ae- 
u curfed war, which had laid wafte all Europe ; and 
** therefore that it was incumbent en them to re- 
Cf venge the manes of their anceffcors." It was al- 
ready abandoned by the Perfians, who all fled fepa- 
rately as fear drove them. Alexander entered it with 
his phalanx, when the. victorious foldiers foon met 
with riches fufficient to fatiate their avarice,.. and im- 
mediately cut to pieces all thofe who ftill remained 
m the city. However, the king foon put an end to 
the maffacre, and published an order, by which his 
his foldiers were forbid to violate the chaftity of the 
women. Alexander had before pofiefTed himfelf, 
either by force or capitulation, of a great number of 
incredible rich cities ; but all this was a trifle com- 
pared to the treaiures he found here. The Barba- 
rians had laid up at Periepolis, as in a ftore-houfe,, 
all the wealth of Perfia. Gold and fil ver were never 
feen here but in heaps, not to mention the clothes- 
and furniture of inestimable value ;. for this was the 
feat of luxury, There was found in the treafury one 
hundred and twenty thoufand talents *, which were 
defigned to. defray the expeuce of the war. To this 

prodigious 

"' About eighteen millions fierling* 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. IJ,I 

prodigious fum, he added f fix thoufand talents, 
taken from Pefagarda. This was a city which Cy- 
rus had built, wherein the kings of Perfia uied to 
be crowned. 

During Alexander's flay in Perfepolis, a little be^- 
fore he let out upon his march againtlDarius, he en- 
tertained his friends at a banquet, at which the guefts 
drank, to excefs. Among the women, who were ad- 
mitted to it mafked, was Thais the courtefan, a na- 
tive of Attica, and at that time-miftrefs to Ptolemy, 
who afcerwards was king of Egypt. About the end 
of the feaft, during which, me had ftudiouGy endea- 
voured to praife the king in the mod artful and de- 
licate manner (aftratagem too often practifed by wo- 
men of that character) me fa id, with a gay tone of 
voice, * f That it would be matter of inexpreOible 
" joy to he^fcwere (he permitted (mafked as fhe then 
" was, and in order to end this feftival nobly) to 
" burn the magnificentpalace of Xerxes, who had 
< c burned Athens; and let it on fire with her own 
" hand, in order that it might befaid in all parts of 
5C the world, that the women,, who had followed 
Cf Alexander in his expedition to Aft 3 had taken 
<c much better vengeance of the Perfians, for the 
" many calamities they had brought upon the Gre- 
" cians, than all the generals who had fought for* 
" them both by fea and land." All the guefts ap- 
plauded the difcourfe ; when immediately the king 
. rofe from table (his head being crowned with flow- 
ers) and taking a torch in his hand, he advanced 
forward to execute this mighty exploit. The whole 
company follow him, breaking into loud acclama- 
tions, and afterwards Gnging and dancing, they fur- 
7 Abint nine hundred thoufand founds* 

round 



I52 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

round the palace. All the red of the Macedonia;, 
at this noife, ran in crouds, with lighted tapers, and 
fct fire to every part of it. However, Alexander 
was forry,. not long after, for what he had done ; and 
thereupon gave orders for extinguifhing the fire, but 
it was too late. 



Sect. X. Darius leaves Ec hat ana. Hers betrayed 
and put in chains by Beffus, governor of fiaffria. 
The latter^ upon Alexander's advancing towards 
him y flies y after having covered Darius with wounds, ' 
who expires a few moments before Alexander's ar- 
rival. He fends bis corps to Syftgambis. 

Alexandt*, after he had taken Jfcrfepolis and 
Faffagarda, was refolved to purfue Darius, who was 
arrived by this time at Ecbatana, the capital of Me- 
dia. There remained ft ill with this fugitive prince 
thirty thoufand foot, among whom were four thon- 
fand Greeks, who were faithful to Him to the laft. 
Befijies thefe he had four thoufand Dingers, and up- 
wards of three thoufand cavalry, moll of them com- 
manded by Beflus, governor of Baclria. Darius 
marched his forces a little out of the common road, 
having ordered his baggage to go before them - } then 
allcmbling his principal officers, he fpoke to them 
as follows : " Dear companions, among fo man;; 
" thoufand men who compofed my army, you only 
** have not abandoned me during the whole courfe of 
" my ill fortune ; and in a lime time, nothing ' 
" your fidelity and conftancy will be able to 
"me fancy myfelf a king. Deferters and t 

" DC 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 1 53 



fC now govern my cities -, not that they are thought 
C£ worthy of the honour bellowed on them, but re- 
* f wards are given them only in the view of tempting 
lit, and to flag ar perfeverance. You 

(! (till chofe to foiiow mv fortune rather than that of 
" thecona^eror, (or which you certainly have merited 
" a recompense from the gods \ and I do not doubt 
u but they will p*-ove beneficent towards you ; \a 
if cafe that power is denied me. With fuch fold- 
C( iers and officers I would brave, without the leaft 
<c dread, die enemy, how formidable fbever he may 
" be. What ! would any one have me furrender 
'• myfelf up to the mercy of the conqueror, and ex- 
" pecc from him, as a reward of my bafeneis and 
" mean.aefs of fplrit, the government of feme pro- 
" vince which he may eendefcend to leave me ? 
<( No — it never fhill be in the power of any man, 
" either to take away, or fix upon my head the dia- 
" dem I wear ; tik fame hour mail put a period to 
<c reign and life. If you have ail th^ fime courage 
<f and refolution, which I can no ways .doubt, I af- 
" fure myfelf that you mail retain your liberty, and 
Cf not be expofed to the pride and infults of the Ma« 
ct cedonians. You have in your hands the means, 
<f either to revenge or terminate all your evils." 
Having ended this fpeech, the whole body of fold- 
iers replied with fhouts, that they were ready to fol- 
low him whitherfoever he mould go, and would (lied 
the lad drop of their blood in his defence. .. 

Such was the refolution of the foldiery -, but Na- 
barzanes, one of the greateft lords of Perfia,' and 
general of the horfe, had confpired with BefTus, 
general of the Baclrians, to commit the blacked of 
alTcrirneSj and that was to feize upon the perfon of 

N 3 the 



154 THE LI *E OF ALEXANDER. 

the king, and lay him in chains 5 which they might 
eafily do, as each of them had a great number of 
foldiers under his command. Their defign was, 
if Alexander fhould purfue them, to fecure them- 
felves, by giving up Darius alive into his hands 5 and, 
in cafe they efcaped, to murther that prince, and af- 
terwards ufurp his crown, and begin a new war. Thefe 
traitors foon won over the troops, by reprefenting to 
them, that they were going to their deftruction ; that 
they would foon be crufhed under the ruins of an 
empire, which was juft ready to fall ; at the fame 
time that Bractriana was open to them, and offered 
them immenfe riches. Though thefe practices were 
carried on very fecretly, they came however to the 
ear of Darius, who could not believe them. Patron, 
who commanded the Greeks, intreated him, but in 
vain, to pitch his tent among them, and to truft the 
guard of his perfon to men on whofe fidelity he might 
depend. Darius could not prevail with himfelf to 
put fo great an affront upon the Perfians, and there-* 
fore made this anfwer : " That it would be a lefs af- 
" fliction to him to be deceived by, than to condemn 
"them. That he would fuffer the word of evils 
€c amidft thofe of his own nation, rather than feek 
lc for fecurity among ftrangers, how faithful andaf- 
" fectionate foeverhe might believe them : and that 
<c he could not but die too late, in cafe the Perfian 
" foldiers thought him unworthy of life.'* It was 
not long before Darius experienced the truth of this 
counfcl : for the traitors feized him, bound him in 
chains of gold, by way of honour, as he was a king, 
and then laying him in a. covered chariot, they ict 
towards Ba&riana. 

Alexander, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 155 

Alexander being arrived at Ecbatana,was informed 
that Darius had left that city five days before. He 
then commanded Parmenio to lay up all the treafures 
of Perfia, in the caftle of Ecbatana, under a ftrong 
guard which he left there. According to Strabo, 
thefe treafures amounted to an hundred and eighty 
thoufand talents (about twenty-feven millions fterl- 
ing ;) and, according to Juftin, to ten talents more, 
(about fifeen hundred thoufand pounds.) He or- 
dered him to march afterwards towards Hyrcania, 
by the country of the Cadufians, with the Thracians, 
the foreigners, and the reft of the cavalry, the royal 
companies excepted. He fent orders to Clitus, who 
ftayed behind in Sufa, where he fell fick, that as foon 
as he was arrived at Ecbatana, he fhould take the 
forces which were left in that city, and come to him 
in Parthia. 

Alexander, with the reft of his army, purfued Da- 
rius, and arrived the eleventh day at Rhaga, which 
is a long day's journey from the Cafpian ftraits; but 
Darius had already pafTed through them. Alexander 
now defpairing to overtake him, what difpatch fo- 
ever he might make, flayed there five days to reft 
Jus forces. He then marched againft the Parthians, 
and that day pitched his camp near the Cafpian 
(traits, and parted them the next. News was foon 
brought him, that Darius had been feized by the 
1 traitors, that BefTus had caufed him to be drawn in 
a chariot, and had fent the unhappy monarch before, 
in order to be the furer of his perfon ; that the whole 
army obeyed that wretch. Artabazus and the Greeks 
excepted, who not having a foul bafe enough to con- 
• fent t,o io abominable a deed, and being too weak to 
prevent it, had therefore left the high road, and 
marched towards the mountains. This 



l$6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER 



his 
:ed 



This was a frem motive for him to haften 
march. The Barbarians, at his arrival, were feized 
with dread, though the match would not have been 
equal, had BefTus been as refolute for fighting, as 
for putting in execution the deteftable adr. above- 
mentioned j for his troops exceeded theenemy both 
in number and ftrength, and were all cool and ready 
for the combat ; whereas Alexander's troops were 
quite fatigued with the length of their march. But 
the name and reputation of Alexander (a motive all 
powerful in war) filled them with fuch prodigious 
terror, that they all fled. BefTus and his accom- 
plices being come up with Darius, they requefted 
him to mount his horfe, and fly from the enemy, but 
he replied, that the gods were ready to revenge the 
evils he had fuffered ; and befeeching Alexander to 
do him juftice, he refufed to follow a band of trait- 
ors. Atthefe words they ftU into fuch a fury, that 
all threw their darts at him, and left him covered 
wich wounds. After having perpetrated this horrid 
crime, they feparated, in order to leave different foot- 
lreps of their flight, and thereby elude thepurfuit of 
the enen y, in cate he fhould follow them ; or at 
lead oblige him to divide his forces. Nabarzanes- 
took the way of Hyrcania, and BefTus that of Bac- 
triana, both being followed by a very few horfe -men ; 
and, as the Barbarians were by this means deftirute 
of leaders, they difperfed themfelves up and down, 
as fear or hope dire&ed their fteps. 

After fearching about in different places, Darius 
was at laft found in a folitude, his body run through 
with fpears, lying in a chariot, and drawing near his 
end. However, he had ftrength enough before he 
died to call fcr drink, which a Macedonian, Polyf- 

trat 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 157 

tratus by name, brought him. He had a Perfian 
prifoner, whom he employed as his interpreter. Da- 
rius, after drinking the liquor that had been given 
him, turned to the Macedonian, and faid, "That 
Cf in the deplorable ftate to which he was reduced, 
<f he however mould have the comfort to fpeak to 
<f one who could underftand him, and that his laft words 
" would not be loft. He therefore charged him to 
" tell Alexander^ that he died in his debt, though 
" he had never obliged him. That he gave him a 
C( multitude of thanks for the great humanity he 
" had exercifed towards his mother, his wife, 
" and his children, whofe lives he had not only 
" fpared, but reftored them to their former iplen- 
€l dour. That he.befought the gods to give victory 
" to his arms, and make him monarch of the uni- 
<c verfe. That he thought he neednot intreat him to 
<c revenge the execrable murder committed on his 
c * perfon, as this was the common caufe of kings." 

After this, taking Polyflratus by the hand, 
" Give him (faid he) thy hand, as I give thee 
u mine, and carry him, in my name, the only pledge, 
if I am able to give of my gratitude and affection." 
Saying thefe words, he breathed his laft. Alexan- 
der coming up a moment after, and feeing Darius's 
body, he wept bitterly ; and by the ftrongeft tefti- 
monies of affection that could be given him, proved 
how intimately he was affected with the unhappinefs 
of a prince who deferved a better fate. He imme- 
diately pulled off his military cloak, and threw it on 
Darius's body ; then caufing it to be embalmed, and 
his coffin to be adorned with a royal magnificence, 
he fent it to Syfigambis, in order that it might be 
interred with the honours ufually paid to the de- 

O ceafed 



1$% THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

ceafed Perfian monarchy and to be entombed with 
his anceftors. 

Thus died Darius, the third year of the 112th 
Olympiad, at al^out fifty years of age, fix of which 
he had reigned. He was a gentle and pacific prince ; 
his reign had been unfullied with injuftice or cruel- 
ty, which was owing either to his natural lenity, or 
to his not having had an opportunity of acting 
otherwife, from the perpetual war he had carried on 
againft Alexander all the time he had fet upon the 
throne. In him the Perfian empire ended, after ha- 
ving exifled two hundred and nine years, compu- 
ting from the beginning to the reign of Cyrus the 
Great (the founder of it) under thirteen kings, viz. 
Cyrus, Cambyies, Smerdis Magus, Darius, fon of 
Hyftafpis, Xerxes I. Artaxerxes Longimanus, 
Xerxes II. Sogdianus, Darius Notus, Artaxerxes 
Memnon, Artaxerxes Ochus, Arfes, and Darius Co- 
d oman us. 



Sect. XL Lacedemonia revolts from the Macedoni- 
an s y with almoft all Peloponneffus, Antipater 
marches cut upon this cccafton y defeats the enemy in 
a battle^ in which Agis is killed, Alexander mar- 
ches againft BefTus, Thalejlris, queen of the Ama- 
zons s ccmes to v if it him from a far country, Alex- 
ander -y at his return from Parthia, abandons him/elf 
to pleafure and excefs. He continues his march to* 
wards ffeffus, A pretended confpiracy of Philotas 
againft the king. He and Parmenio his father 9 are 
put to death,- Alexander Jubdues Jeveral nations. 
He at laft arrives in Baclriana, whither Beffus is 
brought to him, 

Whilst 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 159 

Whilst things patted in Afia, as we have feen, 
fome tumults broke out in Greece and Macedo- 
nia. Memnon, whom Alexander had lent intb 
Thrace, having revolted there, and thereby drawn 
the forces of Antipater on, that fide ; the Lacede- 
monians thought this a proper opportunity to throw 
off the Macedonian yoke, and engaged almoft ail 
Peloponeffus in their defign. Upon this news, An- 
tipater, after having fettled to the beft of his power 
the affairs of Thrace, returned with the utmolt ex- 
pedition into Greece, whence he immediately di-f- 
patched courtiers, in order to give Alexander an ac- 
count of thefe feveral t ran fact ions. As foon as An- 
tipater was come up with the enemy, he refolved to 
venture a ""battle. The Lacedasmonian army con 
filled of no more than twenty thoufand foot, and two 
thoufand horfe, under the command of Agis their 
king ; whereas that of Antipater was twice that num- 
ber. Agis, in order to make the fuperiority of num- 
bers of no effect, had made choice of a narrow fpot 
of ground. The battle began with great vigour, 
each party endeavouring to fignalife themfelves in 
an extraordinary manner, for the honour of their ref- 
pe&ive countries > the one fired with the remem- 
brance of their priftine glory, and the other anima- 
ted by their prefent greatnefs, fought with equal 
courage -, the Lacedaemonians for liberty, and t\.z 
1 Macedonians for empire. So long as the armies 
continued on the fpot where the battle began, A 
had the advantage ; but Antipater, by pretend: 
to fly, drew the enemy into the plains -, after whi. 
extending his whole army, he gained a fuperioritv, 
.and made a proper ufe of his advantage. Agis was 
diitinguifhed by his fuit of armour, his noble ir 

and 



l60 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

and ftill more fo by his valour. The battle was- 
hotted: round his perfon, and he himfelf performed 
the i4:ofl aftonifhing ads of bravery. At lad, after 
having been wounded in feveral parts of his body, 
his ibidiers laying him upon his ihield, carried him 
oft. However, this did not damp his courage, for 
having ieized an advantageous pod where they kept 
dole in their ranks, they refilled with great vigour, 
rhe attacks of the enemy. After having withstood 
them a long time, the Lacedaemonians began to give 
ground, being fcarce able to hold their arms, which 
were all covered with fvveat ; they afterwards retired 
very fad, and at -lad ran quite away. The king 
feeing himfelf clofely purfucd, ftill made fome ef- 
forts, notwithstanding the weak condition to which 
he was reduced, in order to oppofe the enemy. In- 
trepid and invincible to the lad, opprefied by num- 
bers, he died fword in hand. 

In this engagement upwards of three thoufand 
Lacedemonians" loft their lives, and a thoufand Ma- 
cedonians at mod ; but very few of the latter 
returned home unwounded. This victory not only 
ruined the power of Sparta and its allies, but alfo the 
hopes of thofe who only waited th'e illue of this war, 
to declare 'themfelves. Antipater immediately fent 
the news of this fuccefs to Alexander: but, like an 
experienced courtier, he drew up the account of it in 
the moft modeft and circumfpeA terms -, in fuch as 
were bed adapted to diminifh the Judre of a victory 
which might expofe him to envy. He was fenfible, 
that Alexander's delicacy, with regard to honor ; was 
fo very great, that he looked upon the glory which 
another perfon obtained, as a diminution of his own. 
And, indeed he could not forbear, when this news 

was 



TiIE LITE OF ALEXANDER, 10 1 

was brought him, to let drop fome words which dis- 
covered his jealoufy. Antipater did not dare to 
difpofe of any thing by his own private authority, 
and only gave the Lacedemonians leave to fend an 
embaiTy to the king, in order that they themfelves 
might tell him the ill fuccefs they had met with. 
Alexander pardoned them, fome of thofe who had oc- 
cafionedthe revolt excepted, and theie he punilhed. 

Darius's death did not hinder Alexander fron; 
purfuing BeiTus, who had withdrawn in Ractrians. 
where he had afTumed the title of king, by the name 
of Artaxerxes. But, finding at laft that it would U 
impoffible for him to come up with him, returnee 
into Parthia; and reding his troops fome days in 
Hetacompylos r commanded provifions of all forts u- 
be brought thither. 

During, his flay there,, a report prevailed through- 
out the whole army* that the king, content with the 
conquefts he had atchieved, was preparing to return 
into Macedonia. That very inftant the foldiers, as 
if a ilgnal had been made for their fetting out, ran 
like madmen to their tents, began to pack up their 
baggage, load the waggons with the utmoft difpatch 
and fill the whole camp with noife and tumult. Al- 
exander was foon informed of this, when terrified at 
the diforder, he fummoned the officers to ru'3 itm 3 
where, with tears in his eyes,, he complained, that in 
the midft of fo glorious a career, he was (topped on 
a fudden, and forced to return back into his own 
country, rather like one who had been overcome. 
than as a conqueror. The officers comforted him.. 
by reprefenting, that this fudden motion was a mere 
rally, and a tranfient guft of paffion, which woe-id 
not be attended with any ill confequences j and af- 



*62 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

fured him, that the foldiers, to a man, would obey 
him, provided he would addrefs himfeif to them in 
tender expreiTions. He promifed to do it. The 
circumftance which had given occafion to this falfe 
report, was, his having difbanded ibme Grecian fold- 
iers, after rewarding them in a very bountiful man- 
ner ; fo that the Macedonians imagined they alfo 
were to fight no more. 

Alexander having fummoned the army, made the 
following fpeech. <f 1 am not furprifed, O foldiers, 
cf if, after the mighty things we have hitherto per- 
ct formed, you fhould be fatiated with glory, and 
Cl have no other views but eaie and repofe. I will 
< f not now enumerate the various nations we have 
lt conquered. We have fubdued more provinces 
< c than others have cities. Could I perfuade myfelf, 
• c that our conquefts were well fecured, over nations 
cf who were fo foon overcome, I would think as you 
<f do (for I will not drffemble my thoughts) and 
.«« would make all the hafte imaginable to revifit my 
*< houfehold gods, my mother, my fitters, and my 
< c fubjccls, and enjoy in themidft of my country the 
t{ glory I have acquired in concert with you. But 
* c this g>ory will a?l vaniili very foon, it we do not 
« v pur the laft hand to the work. Do you imagine, 
*< that fb many nations, aceuftomed to other fover- 
" eigns, and who have no manner of fimilitude to us 
M either in their religion, manners, br language, were 
« f entirely fubdued the moment they were conquer- 
* ( cd ; and that they will not take up arms, in cafe 
*< we return back with fo much precipitation ? What 
" will become of the reft who ftill remain uncon- 
u quereel ? How 1 ftiall we leave our victory imper- 
il, merely for want of courage ! But that whici\ 

■" touches 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* 1 63 

<c touches me much more; fhall wefuffer thedeteft- 
" able crime of Beffiis to go unpunifhed ? Can you 
« bear to fee the fceptre of Darius in the fanguinary 
<c hands of that munfter, who, after having loaded 
€f him with chains, as a captive, at laft affailinated 
<c his fovereign, in order to deprive us of the glory 
" of faving him ? As for myfelf, I fhall not be eafy 
M till I fee that infamous wretch hanging on a gibbet, 
<c there to pay, to all kings and nations of the earth, 
<f the jud punimment due to his execrable crime* 
" I do not know whether I am miftaken j but me- 
<c thinks I read his fentence of death in your coun- 
" tenances ; and that the anger which fparkles in 
i( your eyes, declares you will foon imbrue your 
" hands in that traitor's blood. " 

The foldiers would not fuffer Alexander to pro- 
ceed j but clapping their hands, they all cried aloud, 
that they were ready to follow wherever he fhould 
lead them. All the fpeeches of this prince generally 
produced this effect. In how defponding a condi- 
tion foever they might be, one fingle word from him 
revived their courage in an inftant, and infpired them 
with that martial alacrity and ardour,, which appear- 
ed always in his face. The king, taking advantage 
of this favourable difpofuion of the whole army, 
croffed Parthia, and in three days arrived on the 
frontiers of Hyrcania, which fubmitted to his arms* 
He afterwards ^ubdued the Mardi, the Arii, the 
Drangas, the Arachofii, and the feveral other nations, 
into which his army marched,, with greater fpeed 
than people generally travel. He frequently would 
purfue an enemy for whole days and nights together, 
almoft without fuffering his troops to take any reft* 
By thisprodigious rapidity, he came unawares upon 

nation^ 



1 64 THE LIF£ 0F ALEXANDER; 

natrons who thought him at a great diftance, and 
fubdued them before they had time to put themfelves 
in a pofture of defence. Under this image Daniel 
the prophet fhadbwed Alexander many ages before 
his birch, by reprefenting him as a panther, a leop- 
ard, and a goat, who rulhed forward with fo- much 
fwitnefs, that his feet feemed not to touch the ground, 

Nabarzanes, one of BefTus's accomplices, who had 
written before to Alexander, came and furrendered 
himfelf, upon promife of a pardon, when he heard 
that he was arrived at Zadracarta, the capital of 
Hyrcania ; and, among other prefents, brought him 
Bagoas the eunuch, who afterwards gained as great 
an afcendant over Alexander, as before over Darius, 

At the fame time arrived Thaleftris, queen of the 
Amazons* A violent defire of feeing Alexander had 
prompted that princefs to leave her dominions, and 
travel through a great number of countries to grati- 
fy her curiofity. Being come pretty near his camp, 
ihe fent word that a queen was come to vifit him ; 
and that fhe had a prodigious inclination to cultivate 
his acquaintance, and accordingly was arrived within 
a little diftance from that place. Alexander having 
returned- her a favorable anfwer, fhe commanded 
her train to (lop, and herfelf came forward with three 
hundred women ; and the moment fhe perceived 
the king, fhe leaped from her horfe, having two 
lances in her right hand. The drffs the Amazons 
ufed to wear, did not quite cover the body ; for 
their bofom being uncovered on the left fide, every 
other part of their body was hid ; their gowns being 
tucked up with a knot, and fo defcended no farther 
than the knee. They preferved their right breaft to 
fuckle their female offspring, but uied to burn the 

left, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER 165 

left, that they might be the better enabled to bend 
the bow and throw the dart, whence they were called 
* Amazons. 

Thaleftris looked upon the king without difcover- 
ing the leaft fign of admiration, and furveying him 
attentively, did not think his ftature anfwerable to 
his fame 5 for the Barbarians are very much (truck 
with a majeftic air, and think thofe only capable of 
mighty achievements, on whom nature has bellow- 
ed bodily advantages. She did not fcruple to tell 
him, that the chief motive of Her journey, was to 
have pofterity by him 3 adding, that (lie was worthy 
of giving heirs to his empire. Alexander, upon this 
requt ft, was obliged to make forne itay in this place -, 
after which Thaleftris returned to her kingdom, 
and the king into the province inhabited by the Par- 
thians. I his (lory, and whatever is related of the 
Amazons, is looked upon by fome very judicious 
authors, entirely fabulous. 

Alexander devoted himfelf afterwards wholly to 
Lis paffions, changing into pride and debauch the 
moderation and continence for which he had hither- 
to been fo greatly admired ; virtues fo very neceffa- 
ry in an exaked ftation of life, and in the midfl of a 
feries of profperiues. He now was no longer the 
fame man. Though he was invincible, with regard 
to the dangers and toils of war, he was far otlferwife 
with refpedt to the charms of cafe. The inftant he 
enjoyed a little repofe, he abandoned himfelf to fen- 
fuality ; and he, whom the arms of the Perfians could 
not conquer, fell a victim to their vices. Nothing 
was now to-be feen but games, parties of pleafures, 
women, and exceffive feafting, in which he ufed to 

O 3 revel 

# Tbh it a Creek wordfgnifiing, without faeafls, 



100 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

revel whole days and nights. Not fatisfied with the 
buffoons,, and the performers on inftrumental mufic, 
whom he had brought with him out of Greece, he 
obliged the captive women, whom he carried along 
wit/i him, to fing fongs after the manner of their 
country. He happened, among thefe women, to 
perceive one who appeared in deeper affliction than 
the reft, and who, by a. modeft, and at the fame time 
a noble confufion, difcovered a greater reluctance 
than the others, to appear in publick. She was a 
perfect beauty,, whrefc was very much heightened by 
her baf&fulnefs, whilft fhe threw her eyes to the 
ground, and did all in her power to conceal her face- 
The king foon imagined by her air and mien that 
fhe was not of vulgar birth ; and enquiring himfelf 
into it, the lady anfwered, that fhe was grand -daugh- 
ter to Ochus, who not long before had fwayed the 
Perfian fceptre, and daughter of his fon ; that (lie 
had married Hvftafpes, who was related to Darius,, 
and general of a great army. Alexander being 
touched with companion, when he heard the unhap- 
py fate of a princefs of the blood royal, and the fad: 
condition to which fhe was reduced, not only gave 
her liberty, but returned all her poiTeflions ; and 
caufed her hufbmd to be fought for, in order that fhe. 
might be r^ftored him. 

This prince was naturally of fo tender and humane 
a difpofition, as made him fenfible of the affliction of 
perfons in the lowed condition. A poor Macedoni- 
an was one day leading before him a mule, laden 
with gold for the king's ufe ; the bead being io tired 
that he was not able either to go on or fuitain the 
load, the mule-driver took it up and carried, but with, 
great difficulty, a confiderable way. Alexnnu 

ferine; 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. l6j 

feeing himjuft (inking under his burthen, and going 
to throw it on the ground, in order to eale himfelf, 
cried out, Friend, do not be weary yet ; try and 
carry it quite through to thy tent, for it is all thy 
own. 

Alexander, in a very difficult march through bar- 
ren places, at the head of a frnall bodv of horfe, 
when he purfued Darius, metfome Macedonians who 
were carrying water .in goat-fkinsj»pn mules. Thefe 
Macedonians perceiving their^Bhce was almoft 
parched with thirft, occafioned by the raging heat 
(the fun being then at the meridian) immediately 
filled a helmet with water, and were running to present 
him with it : Alexander afking to whom they were 
carrying all that water, they replied, We are going 
to carry it to our children ; but do not let your ma- 
jefty be uneafy, for if your life is but faved, we fhall 
get children enough, in cafe we mould lofe thefe. 
At thefe words Alexander takes the helmet, and 
looking quite round him, he faw all his horfemen 
hanging down their heads, and with eyes fixed earn- 
eftly on the liquor he held, fwallow it, as it were, 
with their glances ; upon which he returned it, with 
thanks to thofe who offered it him, and did not 
drink fo much as a (ingle drop, but cried, There is 
not enough for my whole company ; and fhdteld I 
drink alone, it would make the reft be thirftier, and 
they will quite die away. The officers^, who were 
on horfeback round him, (truck in the mod fenfible 
manner with his wonderful temperance and mag- 
nanimity, intreated him, with fhouts, to carry them 
wherever he thought fit, and not fpare them in any 
manner ; that now they were not in the lead tired, 
nor felt the lead thirft -, and that as long as they 

mould 

l 



clrefs, the mannerj^and way of life of the Macedo- 
nian monarchs. ^■imitation of the Perfian kinps he 



l68 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

fhould be commanded by fuch a king, they could 
not think themfelves mortal men. 

Had Alexander always cherifhed fuch fentiments 
as thefe, he would juftiy have merited the title of 
great ; but a too glorious an uninterupted feries of 
profperity, infenfibly effaced them from his mind, 
and made him forget that he was man, contemning 
the cuftoms of his own country, he laid afide the 
ler^ar 

turned his palaceTBma feraglio, filling it with three 
hundred and fixty concubines, (the fame number 
Darius kept) and with bands of eunuchs, of all man- 
kind the moft infamous. 

Not fatisfied with wearing a Perfian robe himfelf, 
he alfo obliged his generals, his friends, and all the 
grandees of the court, to put on the fame drefs, which 
give them the greateft mortification, not one of 
them however daring to fpeak againft this innova- 
tion, or contradict the prince in any manner. 

The veteran foldiers, who had fought under Philip, 
not having the leaft idea of fenfuality, inveighed 
publicly againft this prodigious luxury, and the nu- 
merous vices which the army had learned in Sufa 
and Ecbatana. The foldiers would frequently ex- 
prefs themfelves in the following terms : " That 
cc they had loft more by victory than they had gain- 
" ed : but as the Macedonians had thus affumed 
" the manners and cuftoms of foreigners, they might 
" properly be faid to be conquered. That therefore 
t( all they fhould reap from their long abfence, would 
<( be, to return back into their country in the habit 
" of Barbarians ; that Alexander was afhamed of, 
« and defpifed them -, that he chafe to refemble the 

vanquilfied 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 1 69 

" vanquifhed rather than the victorious ; and that 
F« he, who before had been king of Macedonia, was 
cc now become one of Darius's lieutenants." 

The king was not ignorant of the difcontent 
which reigned both in his court and army, and en- 
deavoured to recover the efteem and friend fhip of 
both by his beneficence : but flavery, though pur- 
chafed at ever fo high a rate, muft necefTariJy be odi- 
ous to freeborn men. He t before thought, that 
the fafeft remedy would be to «4 W0f them, and for 
that purpofe led them againft^RrTus. But as the 
army was encumbered with booty and an ufelefs 
train of baggage, that he could Scarce move, he firft 
caufed all his own baggage to be carried into a 
f great fquare, and afterwards that of his army (fuch. 
things excepted as were abfolutely neceffary) then 
ordered the whole to beoarried from thence in carts 
to a large plain. Everyone was in great pain to know 
the meaning of all this ; but after he had fent away 
the horfes, he himfelf fet fire to his own things, and 
commanded every one to follow his example. Upon 
this the Macedonians lighted up the fire with their 
own hands, and burnt the rich fpoiis they had pur- 
chafed with their blood, and often forced out of the 
midfl: of the flames. Such a facrifice muft certainly 
have be/n made with the utmoft reluctance; but the 
example the king fet them (ilenced all their com- 
plaints, and they feemed lefs affected at the lofs of 
their baggage, than at the:r neglect of military difct- 
pline. A more fpeech the king made, foothed all 
their uneafinefs -, and, being now more able to exert 
themfelves hereafter, they ^c out with joy, and march- 
ed towards liactriana. In this march they met with 
difficulties which would have quire damped any one 

P but 



I70 THE LITE OF ALEXANDER. 

but Alexander; but nothing could daunt his foul, 
or check his progrefs ; for he put the drongcft con- 
fidence in his good fortune, which indeed never for* 
ib©k that hero, but extricated him from a thoufand 
perils, wherein one would have naturally fuppoled 
both himfelfand his army mud have perimcd. 

Being arrived among the Drangse, a danger to 
which he had not been accuftomed, gave him very 
great uneafincfs jj^d this was, the report of a con* 
fpiracy that w^vflpted againft his perfon. - One 
Dymnus, a maril>Fno figure at court, was the con- 
triver of this trcafon. He had communicated his 
execrable defign to a young man, Nichomachus by- 
name, who revealed it to Cebalinus his brother* 
The latter immediately whifpered it to Philotas, 
earneftly entreating him to acquaint the king with it, 
for the confpirators were to execute their defign in 
three days. Philotas, after applauding his fidelity, 
waited immediately upon the king and difcourfed on 
a great variety of fubjecls but without taking the 
leaft notice of the plot. This made Cebilanus fuf- 
pec?t him, he therefore got another perfon to difclofe 
it to Alexander. The prince having heard the whole 
from Cebalinus himfelf, firft commanded Dymnus to ; 
be brought before him, who, gueffing upon what ac- 
count he was fen t for by the king, ran himfelf 
through with his fvvord, but the guards having pre- 
vented this wretch from completing the deed, he 
was carried to the palace. The king afked him 
why he thought Philotas more worthy than he was 
of the kingdom of Macedon ? but he was quite 
fpeechlefs ; fo that, after fetching a deep figh, he 
turned his head afide, and breathed his lalt. 

Th 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER,, 171 

The king afterwards held a council compofed of 
his chief confidents, likewife the Macedonian fol- 
diers, who afTembled underarms, it being a very an- 
cient cuftom for the army, in war time, to take cog- 
nizance of capital crimes ; and, in times of peace 
for the people to do fo ; fo that the prince had no 
power on thefe occafions, unlefs afandtion was gj'vea 
to it by the confent of one of thefe bodies; aivJ the 
king was forced to have recourfeLLp perfuaiiou, be- 
fore he employed his authority. 

The refuit of this afiemblv was, that Philoras 
fhould be put on the rack. The perfons who pi -e- 
fided on that occafion were his moil invecerete ene- 
mies, and they made him fuffer every kind of tor- 
ture. Phiiotas, at firft difcovered the utmoft refo- 
lution and ftrength of mind ; the torments he i~.if- 
fered not being able to force from him a fingie word; 
nor even fo much as a figto.- But at laft, conquered 
by pain, he confeiTed himfelf to be guilty, in iVed 
feveral accomplices, and even accufed his own fa- 
ther.. The next day the anfwers of Phiiotas were 
read in a full aiTembly, he himfelf being prefent; 
Upon the whole, he was unanimously ientenced to 
die ; immediately after which he was (toned, accor- 
ding to the cuftom of Macedonia, with fo.ne others 
of the confpirators. 

The condemnation of Phiiotas brought on that 
of Parmenio : whether it were that Alexander really 
believed him guilty, or was afraid of the father now 
he had put the fon to death, Poiydamus, one of the 
lords of the court, was appointed to iee the execu- 
tion performed. He had been one of Parmenio's 
mod intimate friends, if we may give that name to 
courtiers, who affed only their own fortunes. This 

was 



1J1 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

was the very reafon of his being nominated, becaufe 
no one could fufpec! that he was fenc with any fuch 
orders againft Parmenia. He therefore fet out for 
Media, where that general commanded the army, and 
was entrufted with the king's treafures, which a- 
mounted to an hundred and fourfcore thoufand tal- 
ents, about twenty-feven millions fterling. Alex- 
ander had given him feveral letters for Cleanderthe 
king's lieutenant in,the province;, and for the prin- 
cipal officers. Two were for Parmer.io; one of 
them from Alexander, and the other fealed with Phi- 
lotahs leal, as if he had been alive, to prevent the 
lather from harbouring the leaftfufpicion. Polyda-- 
mus was but eleven days in his journey, and alighted 
in the night time at Cleander's. After having taken 
all the precautions neceffary, they went together* 
with a great number of attendants to meet Parmenio, 
who at this time wis walking in a park of his own. 
The moment Polydamus fpied him, though at a 
great difiance, he ran to embrace him with an air 
(it the utmott joy ; and after compliments, inter- 
mixed with the ftrongeft indications of friendfhip, 
had palled on both fides, he gave him Alexander's 
letter. In the opening it, he afked him what the 
king was" doing; to which Polydamus replied, thai 
he wouid know by his majefty's letter. Parmenio, 
after perufmg it, (aid as follows : ct The king ispre- 
* c paring to march againft the Arachofii. How glo- 
,f rious a prince is this, who will notfufTer htmfelf to 
" take a moment's reft ! However, he ought to be 
t( a little tender of himielf, now he has acquired fo 
t( much glory." He afterwards opened the letter 
which was written in Philotas's name ; and, by his 
countenance, teemed pleated with the contents of it* 

At 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 173 

At that very inftant Clcander thruft a dagger into his 
fide, then made another thruft in his throat -, and 
the reft gave nimfeveral wounds, even after he was 
dead. 

Alexander was fenftble, thatfuch cruel executions- 
might ahenate the affections, of the troops, of which 
he had a proof, by the letters they fent into Macedo- 
nia, which were intercepted by his order ;, conclud- 
ing therefore that it would be proper for him to fep- 
arate, from the reft of the army, fueh foldiers as^hiul 
moft diftinguifhed themfelves by their murmurs and 
complaints, left their feditious difcourfes mould, 
fpread the fame fpirit of difcontent, , he formed a 
ieparate body of thefe, the command of which he 
gave to Leonidas ; this kind of ignominy being the 
only punilhment he inflicted on them. But they 
-were fo ftrongly affe&ed with it, that they endeavour- 
ed to wipe out the dffgrace it brought upon them, 
by a bravery, a fidelity, and an obedience, which they 
obferved ever afterwards* 

To prevent the iifconfequences that might arife 
from this fecret difcontent,. Alexander fet out upon 
his march, and continued to purfue Beffus. After a 
dangerous march he arrived at a mountain called 
,Paropamefus (a part of Caucafus) where his. army 
underwent inexpreflible fatigues,, through wearinefs, 
third, cold, and the fnows, which had killed a great 
number of his foldiers. Beffus laid wafte all the 
country which lay between hiro-and; Mount Cauca- 
fus, in order that the want of provifions and forage 
might deprive Alexander of an opportunity of pur- 
| fuing him. He indeed fuftered very much, but no- 
| thing could check his vigour. After his army had 
t; ;:i fome repofe, he advanced towards Aornos ar.d 
P. 2. Baclra, 



2 74 THE- ' LIFE" ©F ALEXANDER* 

Ba&ra, the two ftrongeft cities of Badfriana, and tooJc 
them both. At Alexander's approach about {even 
or eight thoiifand Ba<5r.rians r who till then had ad- 
hered very firmly to BefTus, abandoned him to a man,, 
and each retired to his refpec~live home. 

About this time, Spitamenes, who was Beflus's 
chief confident, formed a confpiracy againft him, in 
concert with two more of his principal officers. 
Having feized his perfon, they put him in chains,, 
forced his diadem from his head, tore to pieces the 
royal robe of Darius he had put on, and fet him on 
horfeback, in order to give him up to Alexander. 

That prince arrived at a little city inhabited by 
the Branchidae. Thefe were the descendants of a 
family who had dwelt in Miletus, and were intruded- 
with the treafure of the temple called Didymaon, 
which they treacheroufly delivered up to Xerxes, 
who in return fettled them in a very flouriihing con- 
dition in Upper Afia. Alexander left it to the choice 
of the Milefians who were in his army, of either re- 
venging the injury they had formerly done them, or 
of pardoning them in confideration of their com- 
mon extraction. The Milefians being fo much di- 
vided in opinion, that they could not agree among 
rhemfelves, Alexander undertook the deeifion him- 
felf. Accordingly the next day he commanded his 
phalanx to fur-round the city ; and a fignal being 
given, they were ordered to plunder that abode of 
traitors, and put every one of them to the fword> 
which inhuman order was executed with the fame 
barbarity as it was given. All the citizens* at the 
very time that they were going to pay homage to 
Alexander, were murdered in the ftreets, and in their 
feoufes ; no manner of regard being had to their 

cries 



TffE ttFE OF ALEXANDER. 17^ 

cries and tears,, nor the leaft diftin&ion made of age 
or icx. They even pulled up the very foundations 
of the walls, in order that not the lead traces of that 
city might remain. Such was the total deftruction 
fcf thefe ill-fated citizens^ for the crimes their fathers 
had committed upwards of one hundred and fifty 
years before. 

A little after Beffus was brought to Alexander,, 
not only bound but ftark naked, Spitamanes held 
him by a chain, which went round his neck, in 
presenting him to the king, he faid, " I have at lafi 
u revenged both you and Darius* my kings and 
<c mailers. I bring you a wretch who affaflinated 
ic his own {overeign ; and who is now treated in the 
" fame manner as himfelf gave the fir ft example of. 
" Alas 1 Why cannot Darius fee this fpeclacle !"' 
Alexander, after having greatly applauded Spita- 
manes, turned about to BefTbs, and fpoke thus : 
* r Thou muftfurely have been infpired with the rage 
" and fury of a tyger, otherwife thou wouldeft net 
H have dared to load a king, from whom thou hadit 
,c received fomany inftances of favour, with chains, 
" and afterwards murder him ! Be gone from my 
" fight, thou monfter of cruelty and perfidioufnefs." 
The king faid no more, but fending for Oxatres, 
Darius's brother, he gave BefTus to him, in order 
that he might fuffer all the ignominy he defervedj 
fufpending however his execution, that he might be 
judged in the general aiTembiy of the Ferfians. 



Sier* 



I7» T-»E fclFE OF A-LEXANDEPU 

Sect. XII. Alexander after taking a great mam ci^ 
ties in Baclriana, builds one near the river Jaxarthe, 
which he calls by his own name. The Scythians, 
alarmed at the building of this city > J end ambaffa-* 
dors to. the king. He gainr afignal viclory ovtr the. 
Scythians. He checks and pinifhes the infurrettion 
of the Sogdians, fends Bejfus to Ecbatana, to be puU 
to death, and takes the city of Petra yi which w as- 
thought impregnable. 

Alexander, infatiable of victory and conquefts,, 
Hill marched forward infearch of new nations whom, 
he might fubdue. After recruiting, his cavalry, 
which had fuflfered very much by*their long and 
dangerous marches, he advanced to the Iaxarthes. 

Not far from this river the Barbarians rufhing 
fuddenly from their mountains, came and .attacked 
Alexander's forces, and having carried off a great, 
number of prifoners, they retired to their lurking 
holes, in which were twenty thoufand, who foughs 
with bows and (lings. The king went. and befieged 
them in perfon, and being one of the foremoft in the 
attack, he was. fhot with an arrow in the bone of his 
leg, and the iron point ftuck in the wound. The, 
Macedonians, who were greatly alarmed, carried him 
off immediately, yet not To fecretly but that the Bar* 
barians knew of- it. The next day they fentambaf-* 
fadors to the king, -who ordered them to be immedi- 
ately brought in, when taking off the bandage that- 
covered his wound, he mowed them his leg. Thefe 
allured him, that as foon as they heard of his being', 
grounded; they were as. much afflicted as the Mace- 
donians could poffibly be, and could they have found* 
the perfon who foot the arrow, they would have de- 
limed . 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, I77 

Jivered him up to Alexander ; that none but impi- 
ous wretches would wage war againft the gods - t that 
being vanquished by his unparelleled bravery, they 
fubmitted to him. The king, after taking back his 
prifoners, accepted their homage. 

After this he let out upon his march, and arrived 
at Maracanda,, the capital of Sogdiana, which he 
took -, and aft-r leaving a con'Gderable garrifon there, 
he burnt and laid wafte all the plains. From thence he 
proceeded to the river Iaxarthes, where he had marked 
out a fpot of ground proper for building a city, in order 
to curb the nations he had conquered, and thofe he 
intended to fubdue. But this deugn was retarded by 
the rebellion of the Sogdians, which was followed 
by the Ba&rians. Alexander difpatched Spitama- 
nes to bring them back to their allegiance ; but he 
himfelf had been chiefly inftrumental in this infur- 
rection. The king furprifed at this treachery, was 
determined to take vengeance of him in the mod tig- 
nal manner. He then marched to Cyropolis, which 
he took by dorm, and after plundering the city, ra- 
zed it to the very foundations. From hence he went 
to Memaceni, no place ever made a more vigorous 
defence than this j Alexander not only loft his bed 
foldiers before it, but was himfelf expofed to very 
great -danger -, a (lone (biking him with fo much vi- 
olence on the head, that it deprived him of his fenfes> 
the whole army thought him dead ; but the inftant 
he recovered, without (laying till his wound was 
healed, he pufhed oa the fiege with greater vigour 
than before, having made a breach ia the wait and 
entered the city, he burnt it to the ground, and put 
all the inhabitants to the fword. Several other cities 
met the fame fate. This was a third rebellion of the 

P 3 Sogdians* 



I78 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

Sogdians. Alexander had pardoned them twice be- 
fore. They loft above an hundred and twenty 
thoufand men in thefe different fieges. The king af- 
terwards fent Menedemus with three thoufand foot 
and eight hundred horfe, to Maracanda, whence Spi- 
tamenes bad drove the Macedonian garrifon, and 
fhut hinifelf up there. 

With regard to himfelf, he returned back and en- 
camped on the Iaxarthes, where he furrounded with 
walls the whole fpot of ground which his army co- 
vered, and built a city on it, containing three leagues 
in circumference, which he called Alexandria ; and 
to people his new city, he ranfomed all the prifoners 
he could meet with, fettled fuch of his foldiers there 
who were worn out in his fervice, and permitted ma- 
ny natives of the country, at their own requcft to in- 
habit it. 

Beit the king of thofe Scythians who live on the 
other fide of the Iaxarthes, fearing that this city 
would prove a yoke for them, they fent a great body 
of foldiers to demolifh it, and to drive the Macedo- 
nians to a greater diftance. Alexander, who had no 
defign of attacking the Scythians, finding them make 
feveral incurfions, even in his fight, in a very info- 
lent manner, was much perplexed 5 efpecially when 
advice was brought him at the fame time, ttat the 
body of troops he had ordered to Maracanda, had 
been all cut to pieces ; however he immediately pre- 
pared to crofs the river, and in three days time, his 
foldiers completed twelve thoufand rafts or floats 
for that purpofe. 

As every thing was ready for the march, feveral 
Scythian ambafiadors arrived to the number of twen- 
ty, according to the cuftom of their country, who all 

rode. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I79 

rode through the camp, defiring to fpeak with 
the king, Alexander having fent for them into his 
tent, deiired them to fet down. They gazed atten- 
tively upon him a long time without fpeaking a word, 
being very probably furprifed, to find that his air and 
ftature did not anfwer the high idea they had enter- 
tained of him from his fame. At length the oldeft 
of the ambafTadors addrefled Alexander in the fol- 
lowing words : 

" Had the gods given thee a body proportion- 
" able to thy ambition, the whole univerfe would 
cc have been too little for thee. With one hand 
xt thou wouldeft touch the eaft, and with the other 
" the weft ; and not fuisfied with this, thou would- 
" eft follow the fun, and know where he hides him- 
" felf. Such as thou art, thou yet afpireft after what 
<c it will be impoffible for thee to attain. Thou 
l< crorTeft over from Europe into Afia -, and when 
" thou (halt have fubdued all the race of men, then 
xc thou wilt make war againft rivers, forefts.and wild 
c< beafts. Doft thou not know, that tall trees are 
" many years a growing, but- may be torn up in an 
a hour's time ; that the lion ferves fometimes for 
" food to the fmalleft birds ; that iron, though fo 
" very hard, is confjmed by ruft ; in a word, that 
c< there is nothing fo ftrong which may not be del- 
" troyed by the weakeft thing ? 

<f What have we to do with thee I We never fet 
" foot in thy country. May not thofe who inhabit 
<c woods, be allowed to live without knowing who 
<c thou art, and whence thou Cornell? We will neith- 
<c er command over, or fubmit to any man. And 
<c that thoiymayeft be fcnfible what kind of people 
<c the Scythians are, know, that we received from 

heaven, 



l80 THE LITE OF ALEXANDER. 

cc heaven, as a rich prefent, a yoke of oxen, a plough - 
<€ fhare, a dart, a javelin, and a cup. Thefewe make 
"•ufe of, both with our friends, and againft our ene- 
.«' rnies. To our friends we give corn, which we 
" procure by the labour of' our oxen ; with them we 
dC offer wine to the gocfo in our cup ; and with re- 
u gard to our enemies, we combat them at a dif- 
u tance with our arrows, and near at hand with our 
u javelins. It is with thefe we formerly conquered 
*' the moft warlike nations, fubdued the mod power- 
*< ful kings, laid wafte all Afia, and opened ourfelves 
£ * a way into the heart of fcgypt. 

"But thou, who boafteft thy coming to extirpate 
£C robbers, thou thyfelf art the greateft robber upon 
"earth. Thou haft plundered all nations thou 
*' overcameft. Thou haft poffefled thyfelf of Lydia, 
«• invaded Syria, Perils, and Ba&riana ; thou art 
** forming a defign to march as far as India, and 
cc thou now comeft hither to feize upon our herds of 
* c cattle. The great poiTeflions thou haft, only make 
u thee covet more eagerly what thou haft not. Doft 
lf thou not fee how long the Baclrrans have checked 
< c thy progrefs ? Whilftthou art fubduing theie, the 
" Sogdians revolt, and victory is to thee only the 
" occafion of war. 

<f Pafs but the Iaxarthes, and thou wilt behold 
cc the great extent of our plains. It will be in vain 
" for thee to purfue the Scythians : and I defy thee 
" ever to overtake them. Our poverty will be more 
ct active than thy army, laden with the fpoils of f6 
" many nations j and, when thou (halt fancy us at a 
" great diftance, thou wilt fce us rufh fuddenly on 
" thy camp ; for we purfue, and fly from our enc- 
u mies, with equal fpeed. I am informed that the 

" Greeks 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. l8l 

•* Greeks fpeak jeftingly of the Scythian folitudes; 
l< and that they are even become a proverb jbut we 
" are fonder of our defer ts, than of thy great cities 
(< and fruitful plains. Let me obferve to thee, that 
" fortune is flippery ; hold her fad therefore, for 
"fear fhe fhould efcape thee. Put a curb to thy fe- 
fC licity, if thou defireft to continue in poiTeflion of it. 
<c If thou art a god, thou oughteft to do good to 
" mortals, and not deprive them of their pofleflions: 
" if thou art a mere man, reflect always on what thou 
" art. They whom thou fhalt not moled, will be 
" thy true friends ; the ftrongeft friendfhips being 
" contracted between equals ; and they are efteem- 
P ed equals, who have not tried their flrength againft 
f* each other : but do not imagine, that thole whom 
Cf thou conquered can love thee ; for there is no 
cc fuch thing as friendship between a matter and his 
M flave, and a forced peace is foen followed by a war. 
t " To conclude > do not fancy that the Scythians 
" will take an oath in $heir concluding an alliance. 
¥ The only oath among them, is to keep their word 
" without fwearing. Such cautions as thefe do in- 
" deed become Greeks, who fign their treaties, and 
u calf upon the gods to witneis them $ but, with re- 
" gard to us. our religion confids in being fincere, 
cc and in keeping the promifes we have made. That 
4C man who is not amamed to break his word with 
" men, is not afhamed of deceiving the gods 5 and 
Xf of what ufe could friends be to thee whom thou 
<c coulded not trud ? Confider that we will guard 
cc both Europe and Ada for thee. We extend 
<r as far as Thrace, and we are told, that this 
" country is contiguous to Macedonia. The river 
Ci laxarthes only divides us from Bactriana, Thus 



iSa THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

<c we are thy neighbours on both fides. Confider, 
<c therefore, whether thou wile have us for friends, or 
<f enemies. " 

The Barbarian fpoke thus : to whom the king 
made but a very fhort anfwer; " That he would take 
cc advantage both of his own good fortune, and of 
c< their counfel ; of his good fortune, by ftill con- 
<c tinuing to rely upon it ; and of their counfei, by 
<c not attempting any thing rafhly." Having dif- 
mifled the ambafTadors, his army embarked on the 
rafts which by this time were got ready. 

The army found great difficulty in croffing the 
river. Every thing confpired to intimidate them ; 
the clamour and confufion, that are infeparable from 
iuch an enterprize ; the rapidity of the ftream ; and 
the fight of a' numerous army drawn up in battle'- 
array on the oppofitefhore. However, theprefence 
of Alexander, who was ever the foremoft in encoun- 
tering dangers, made them neglect their own fafety, 
and be concerned for his only. As foon as the Ma- 
cedonians began to draw near the fhore, they who 
carried fhieldsrofe up together, when throwing their 
javelins with a ftrong arm, every weapon did execu- 
tion. When they perceived that the enemy, over- 
powered with that (Lower of fhafts, began to retrire, 
and draw their ho.rfes back, they leaped on the fhore 
with incredible fwiftnefs, and, animating one an* 
other, began the charge with vigour. In this difor- 
cler, the troopers, whofe horfes were ready bridled, 
rufhed upon the enemy, and quite broke them. 

Nothing was heard in the Macedonian army, but 
Shouts of. joy and victory, whiiil they continued to 
attack the Barbarians with the utmoft fury : The 
latter not being able to (land fo fierce an oniet, fled as 

fa ft 



? HE LIFE OF ALEXANDER 1%$ 

faft as their hcrfes would carry them \ for thefe were 
the cavalry only. The Macedonians purfued them 
beyond the boundaries or limits of Bacchus, which 
were marked out by great ftones ranged pretty ciofe 
to one another, and by great trees, the trunks of 
which were covered with ivy. The heat of the pu'r- 
fuit carried them fo far that they did not return ha< k 
into their camp, till after midnight; having kilfed a 
great number of the enemy, and taken many more 
prifoners, with eighteen hundred horfes. On Alex- 
ander's fide there were but fixty troopers (Iain, and 
about one hundred foot, with a thoufand wounded. 
Alexander fent back all their prifoners without ran- 
fom, to (how, that not animofity, but a third of glory, 
bad prompted him to make war againfl fo valiant a 
nation. 

The report of this victory, and much mere the 
clemency with which the, king treated the vanquifh- 
ed, greatly increafed his reputation. The Scythian^ 
had always been confidered as invincible ; but after 
their defeat it was owned that every nation in the 
world ought to yield to the Macedonians* The 
Sa'cse/who were a powerful nation, fent an embafiy 
to Alexander, by which they fubmitted themfelves to 
him, and requested his friendfhip>. The Scythians 
themfejves made an apology, and declared they were 
ready to obey the command of the victorious prince. 

Alexander being fo happily free from the care and 
trouble of this important war, bent his whole thoughts 
on Maracanda, in which the traitor Spitamanes had 
fortified himfelf. At the firft news of Alexander's 
approach^ he had fled away, and withdrawn into 
Bactriana. The king not caring to purfue him 
thither,, returned back and facked Sogdiana. 

Among 



fc&fr THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Among the Sogdians that were taken prifoners, 
there were thirty young men, who were the greateft 
lords of the country. Thefe being told that they 
"were led to execution by Alexander's command, be- 
gan to fing fongs of joy, to leap and dance v difco- 
"vtring all the indications of an immoderate joy^ 
The king, furprifed to fee them go to death with fo- 
much gaiety, had them brought before him $ when* 
he afked them, how they came to break into fuch 
tj-anfporrs of joy, when they faw death before their 
ty.es ? they anfwered, that they fhould have been af- 
^ided, had any other perfon but himfelf put them to 

nh j but as they would be reitored to their ancef- 
by the command of (o great a monarch,, who had 
vanquifhed all nations. Alexander, admiring their 
magnanimity, aifced whether they would defire to be 
pardoned, upon condition that they fhould no longer 
be his enemies ? they anfwered, he might be affured 
they had never been his enemies ; but that* as he-had 
.-marked them, they had defended themfelves. The 
king afked them further, what pledges they would 
give him of their fincerity ? 4t No other (anfwered 
* r they) but the fame life we receive from your good- 
" nefs,, and which we fhall be always ready to give 
,c back, whenever you fhall require it." They pro- 
Ted as gaod as their word. Four of them, whom 
he took into his body guards, endeavoured to rival 
the Macedonians in zeal and fidelity. 

The king, after having kh a fmail number of 
forces in Sogdiana, marched to Baclria, where, ha- 
ving afTembied all his generals, he commanded 
Be8us to be brought before them ; when, after re- 
projchifig him for his treachery, he caufed his nofe 
and ears to be cut off, and then feat him to Ecbatao 

tfcffl 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, I«K 

tilers to Juffer whatever puniOiment Darius's mo- 
ther fliould think proper to inflict upon him. Plu- 
tarch has left us an account of this execution. Four 
trees were bent, by main force towards each other ; 
and to each of thefe trees one of the limbs of this 
traitor's body was fattened. Afterwards thefe trees 
being let return to their natural pofition, they flew 
back with fo much violence,- that each tore away the 
limb which was fixed to it, 

Alexander received at this time, both from Ma- 
cedonia and Greece, a large number of recruits^ 
amounting to upwards of fixteen thoufand men. 
By this reinforcement, he was enabled to fubdue all 
thole who had rebelled,., and- to curb them for the 
future. 

(h) All things were now reflored' to a profound 

tranquility. There remained but one ftrong hold,. 

Ued the rock of Oxus, which was defended' by 

rirmzes with thirty thoufand foldier-s under his 

command. This rock "which was very high and 

craggy on all fides, was acceflable only by a fingfc 

path that was cut in it.- The king, after viewing its 

works was in fufpence whether he fhould befiege ir, 

but as it was his character to aim at the marvellous 

I in all things, and to attempt impoflibilities, he re- 

-folved to try if he could not overcome, on this oc- 

i caHon, nature itfeif,- which Teemed to have fortified- 

| this rock in fuch a manner as had rendered it abfo- 

■; lutely impregnable. However, before he formed 

i the fiege, he fummoned thofe Barbarian s, but m 

1 mild terms, to fubmit to him. Arimazes received 

I this offer in a very haughty manner ; and after ufing 

feveral in&king expreffions, afked, " Whether 

QL 2 Alexander^ 

l A> M. 3 6 7 6] Ant. J, C. yAi 



2 36 "THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

" Alexander who was able to do all things, could' 
" fly alio'; and whether nature had^on a fudden,, 
*•' given him wings - 3 " 

Alexander was highly exafperated at this anfwerv 
He therefore gave orders for (electing,, from among. 
the mountaineers who were in his army, three hun- 
dred of the moft active and dextrous* Thefe being 
brought to him, he add relied them thus : u k was 
* c in your company, brave young men, that I ftorm- 
< c ed kich. places as were thought impregnable ; 
* c that I made my way over mountains covered with 
" eternal fnows ;. croffed rivers, and broke through 
Ci the paries of Silicia* This rock, which you fee, : 
<f has but one outlet, which alone is defended by the 
€i Barbarians, who neglect every other part. There 
<{ is no watch or centinel, except on that fide which 
€i faces our camp. If you fearch very narrowly, you 
« c certainly will meet with fome path that leads to 
" the top of the rock. Nothing has been made fo 
<c inacceffible by nature,, as not to be furmounted by 
u valour i and it was only by our attempting, what 
** no one before had hopes of effecting, that wepof- 
* s feffed Qu>fe!ves of Afia. Get up to the fummit, 
" and when you (hall have made yourfelves matters' 
*< of it, ht up a white, ftandard there as a fignal -,, 
*< and be affured, that I then will certainly difen*- 
' e gage you from the enemy,, and draw them upon 
ss my 1 elf] by making a diverfion." At the fame 
time that the king gave out this order, he made then* 
thc mod noble promifes ; but the plealing him, was 
vonfider^d by them as the great eit of ail rewards. 
. red therefore with the mod noble ardour, and fan- 
cying they had already reached the fummit, theyfet 
<HH. after having provided, themfdves with wedges- 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, I-87 

to drive into the ftones, cramp-irorv^ and thick 
ropes. 

The king went round the mountain witb them* 
and commanded, them to begin their march * at the 
fecond watch of the night, by that part which mould 
feem to them of ea(;eft accefs ; befeeching the gods 
to guide their Iteps, ,. They then took pro vifions for 
two days ; and being armed- with fwords and jave- 
lins only, they began to afcend the mountain, walk- 
ing fometime oh foot ; afterwards, when it was ne~ 
cetfary for them to climb, ibme forced their wedges 
into the (tones N^hich projected forwards, and by that 
means raifed themielves ■■;. others thruft their cramp- 
irons into the (tones that were frozen, to.' keep them- 
ielves from failing in fo frippery a. way; in- fine, 
others driving in their wedges with great ftteagthv 
made them ferve as fo many fcaling ladders, They 
fpent the whole day in this manner, hanging againtl 
the rock, and expofed to numerous dangers and dif- 
ficulties, being obliged to druggie at 'the fame time 
with fnow, cold, and wind.. Neverthelefs, the hard- 
eft talk, was yet to come j and the farther they ad- 
vanced, the higher the rock feemed to rife. But 
that which terrified them molt, was the fad fpecTacle 
of forne of their comrades failing down precipices, 
whoie unhappy fate was a warning to them of what 
they .thernfelves • might expect. Notwithstanding 
this, they ftili advanced forward, and exerted them- 
ielves fo vigoroufly, that, in fpite of all thefe diffi- 
eukies-, they at lair got to the top of the rock. They 
then "were aH inexpreffible weary, and many of them 
had even lod the ufeof fomeof their limbs. . Night 
and drowfinefs came upon them at theJams time, fo 



1&3 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* 

that, difperfiag themfelves in fuch diftant parts of the* 
rock as were free from fnows, they laid down in 
them, and flept till day- break-. At laft waking from 
a deep deep, and looking on all fides to dtfcover the 
place where fo many people could lie hid, they faw 
fmoke below them,- which fliowed them the haunt of 
the enemy. They then put up the fignal, as had 
been agreed -, and their whole company drawing up^ 
thirty-two were found wanting, who had loft their 
lives in the afcent. 

In the mean time the king, equally fired with a 
defire of ftorming the fortrefles,. and (truck with the 
vifible dangers to which thofe men were expofed^ 
continued on foot the whole day, gazing upon the 
reck, and he himfelf did not retire to reft till 
'dark. The next morning, by peep of day, he was 
the tirft who perceived the fignal^ Neverthelefs he 
was ftill in doubt- whether he might truft his eyes,, 
becaufe of the falfe fplendour which breaks out at 
day-break -, but the light increafing, he was fure of 
what he faw. Sending therefore for Cophes, who 
before, by his command, had furrounded. the Bar- 
barians, he difpatched him a fecond time, with an 
exhortation to think better of the ma v .ter ; and in 
cafe they fhould ftill depend upon the ftrength of the 
place, he then was ordered to fhow them the band ; 
of men behind their backs, who were gpt to the 
fummit of the rock. Cophes employed all the ar- 
guments poflible, to engage Arimases to capitulate^ 
reprefenting to him, that he would gain the king's 
favour, in cafe he did not interrupt the great defigns 
he meditated, by obliging him to make fome itay 
before tfrat rock. Animazes fent a haughtier and 
jnore.iniblcnt anfvyer than before, and comman \ ; 

hiivi 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. I&9 

him to retire. Then Cophes taking him by the hand, 
defired he would come out of the cave with him, 
which the Barbarian doing, he fhowed him the Ma- 
cedonians polled over his head, and faid in an in- 
fulting tone of voice, You fee that Alexander's fol- 
diers have wings. In the mean time, the trumpets were 
heard to found in every part of the Macedonian camp, 
and the whole army fbouted aloud, and cried vic- 
tory ! Thefe things, though of little confequence in 
themfelves, did neverthelefs, as .often happens, throw 
the Barbarians into fo great a confternation, that 
without once reflecting how few were got to the 
fummit, they thought themfelves loft. Upon this, 
Cophes was recalled, and thirty of the chief among 
the Barbarians were fent back with him, who agreed 
to furrender up the place, upon condition that their 
lives might be fpared. The king, notwithftanding 
the ftrong oppoiition he might meet with, was fo ex- 
afperated at the haughtinefs of Arimazes, that he re- 
fufed to grant them any terms of capitulation. Ari- 
, mazes, however was fo blinded by fear, and conclu- 
ding himfelf abfolutely loft, came down, with his 
relations and the principal nobility of the country, 
into Alexander's camp. But this prince, who was 
not mafter of his anger, forgetting what the faith of 
treaty and humanity required on this occafion, cau- 
fed them all to be fcourged with rods, and after- 
wards ta be fixed to crofTes, at the foot of the fame 
rock. The multitudes of people who furrendercd, 
with all the booty,, were given to the inhabitants of 
the cities which had been newly founded in thofe 
parts ; and Artabazus was .left governor of the roek 5 
Uie whole province round it. 
— «»^<^»«»—— 

Q_i Sect, 



I9O THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

Sect. XIII. The death of Clitus. Several expedi- 
tions of Alexander. He commands worjhip to be 
paid to himfelfy after the manner of the Perjians* 
B '{/contents ar.ife among the Macedonians. Death 
of Califihenes the pbilqfopher. 

Alexander having fubdued the Maffagetse and 
Dah^, entered Bazaria. In this province are a great 
number of large parks flocked with deer. Here the 
king took the diverfion of hunting, in which he was 
expofed to very great peril - 3 for a lion of an enor- 
mous fize advanced- directly to him, but he killed 
him with a fingle thruft. Although Alexander came 
off victorious on this occafion, yet the Macedonians, 
alarmed at the clanger he had run, and the whole ar- 
my in his perfon, gave orders, purfuant to thecuf- 
tom of their country, that the king mould go no 
more a hunting on foot, without being attended by 
fome of his courtiers and officers. They were fenfi- 
bie, that a king is not born for his own fake, but for 
that of his fubjedts ; that he ought to be careful of 
his own perfon for their fakes, and referve his courage 
for other dangers j and that the being famous for 
killing beads (a reputation unworthy of a great, 
prince) ought not to be purchafed fo dear. 

From hence he advanced to Maracanda, where he 
quelled fome tumults which had broke out in that 
country. Artabazus requeuing to be difcharged 
from the government of that province, by reafon of 
his great age, he appointed Clitus his fucceffbr. He 
was an old officer, who had fought under Philip, and 
fignalized himfelf on many occafions. At the bat- 
tle of the Granicus, as Alexander was fighting bare- 
headed, and Rofaies had his arm railed, in order . 



THE L, : OF ALEXANDER, I9I 

ftrike him behind, he covered the king with his 
fhield, and cut o 1 Barbariah ? s hand. Hellanice 

his litter, had . Alexander ; and he loved her 

with as much dernefs as ir fne had been his own 
mother. A; the- king .from thefe feveral confidera- 
tioiia had very great refpedt for Clitus, he entrufted 
him v. it government of one of the mod impor- 

tant pr< nces of his empire, and ordered him to fet 
out ic next day. 

Before his departure, Clitus was invited in the 
ng to an entertainment, in which the king, after 
king immoderately, began to celebrate his own 
oits; and was fo exceffiveiy lavifh of felf-com- 
mendation, that hzeven mocked thofe veryperfons 
who knew that he fpoke truth. However, the olden: 
men in the company held their peace, till beginning 
to depreciate the warlike acts of Philip, he boafted, 
" That the famous victory of Chasronea was won by 
" his means ; and that the glory of fo immortal a 
" battle had been torn from him by the malice and 
<c jealoufy of his father. That in the * infurrection 
<c which broke outJbetween the Macedonians and 
* c mercenary Greeks, Philip, fainting away after the 
<c wounds he had received in .that tumult, had laid 
" himfelf on the ground ; and could not think of a 
" better method tofave himfelf, than by lying along 
cc as dead ; that on this occafion, he had covered 
! <c him with his fhield, and killed with his own hando 
" thofe who attempted to fall upon him ; but that 
C£ his father could not prevail upon himfelf to con- 
" fefs this circumftance ingenuoufly, being vexed 
<c that he owed his life to his own fon. That in the 
" war againft the Illyrians, he was the only perfon 

« who 

* Wbu jtditwi is net mmiianed in any ether place • 



I92 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

* c who had done any thing, Philip having had no 
** manner of (hare in it ; and hearing of the defeat 
*? of the enemy, no otherwife than by the letters he 
" fent him. That the perfons worthy of praife were 
« c not fuch as initiated themfelves in the f myfteries 
*i of the Samothracians, when they ought to have 
" laid wafte all Afia with fire and fword, but thofe 
• c who had atchieved fueh mighty exploits as fur* 
* paffed all belief." 

Thefe and the like difcourfes were very pleafing 
to the young men, but were fhocking to thole 
advanced in years ; efpecially for Philip's fake, un- 
der whom they had fought many years. Clitus, who 
alio was intoxicated, turning about to thofe who fat 
below him at table, quoted to them a paflage from 
4: Euripides, but in fuch a manner that the king 
could only hear his vo ; ce, and not the words dif- 
tinctly. The fcnfe of this paflage was, <c That the 
" Greeks had done very wrong in ordaining, that 
cc in the infcriptions engraved on trophies, the names 
u of kings only fhould be mentioned ; becaufe, by 
iC thefe means, brave men were robbed of the glory 
4< they had purchafed with their blood." The. king, 
fufpecYing Clitus had let drop fome difobliging ex- 
pressions, afked thofe who fat neareft him, what he 
had fakl ? As no one anfwered, Clitus, raifing his 
voice by degrees, began to relate the actions of Phi- 
lip, and his wars in Greece, preferring them to what- 
ever was doing at that time ; which created a great 
difpute between the young and old men. Though/ 

the 

f // nxas vfual for generals, btfore they fet out on their typed:* 
lions, tc cauie th>mfgl«jes to be initiated in tbejf myftuus, and cjfer 
jacrinc'i to the gods <w/:o prefided in tbtm. frj/sb.y Phihf, by eh* 
{c>-X'iKg tb'ti ceremony, had delayed feme enttrfriji, 

\ In his /itidrcmaehe. 



THE 1IFE OF ALEXANDER. 1 93 

the king was prodigioufly vexed in his mind, he 
neverthelefs ftifled his refentment, and feemed to 
liften very patiently to all Clitus fpoke to his preju- 
dice. It is probable he woald have quite fupprefted 
his paftion, had Clitus flopped there ; but the latter 
growing more and more infolent, as if determined to 
exafperate and infuitthe king, wentfuch lengths, as 
to defend Parmenio publickly ; and to a(Tert, that 
.the deftroying of Thebes was but trifling, in compa- 
nion of the victory which Philip had gained over the 
Athenians ; and that the old Macedonians, though 
fometimes unfuccefsful, were greatly fuperior to thofe 
who were fo rafh as to defpife them. 

Alexander telling him, that in giving cowardice 
the name of ill fuccefs, he was pleading his own 
caufe ; Clitus rifes up, with his eyes fparkling with 
wine and anger ; " It is neyerthelefs this hand (faid 
" he to him, extending it at the fame time) that fa- 
<c ved your life at the battle of the Granicus. It is 
<f the blood and wounds of thefe very Macedonians, 
<c who are accufed of cowardice, that raifed you to 
<c this grandeur. But the tragical end of Parmenio 
" fbows, what reward they and myfelf may expect 
tc for all our fervices." This laft reproach ftung 
Alexander : However, he ftill reftrained his paf- 
fion, and only commanded him to leave the table, 
<c He is in the right (fays Clytus, as he rofe up) not 
<c to bear free born men at his table, who can only 
ic tell him truth. He will do well to pafs his life 
<c among Barbarians and (Lives, who will be proud 
cf to pay their adoration to his Perfian girdle and his 
" white robe." But now the king, no longer able 
to fupprefs his rage, fnatched a javelin from one of 
his guards, and would have killed Clitus on the 

R fpot 5 



1^4 T^E LIFE 0F ALEXANDER. 

foot, had not the courtiers withheld his arm, and 
Clitus been forced, but with great difficulty, out of 
[he hall. However, he returned into it that mo- 
ment by another door, finging, with an air of info- 
lence, veries reflecting highly on the prince,who fee- 
ing the general near him, (truck him with his jave- 
lin, and laid him dead at his feet, crying out at the 
fame time, i{ Go now to Philip, to Parmenio, and to 
" Attains." 

The king's anger being in a manner extinguiflied 
on a fudden in the blood of Clitus, his crime dif- 
played itfelf to him in its blacked and mod dreadful 
light. He had murdered a man, who indeed abufed 
h:s patience, but then he had always ferved him with 
the utmoft zeal and fidelity, and faved his life, though 
he was afhamed to own it. He had that inftant per- 
formed the vile office of an executioner, in punifh- 
ing, by an horrid murder, the uttering of fome indif- 
ciect words, which might be imputed to the fumes 
of wine. Wirh what face could he appear before 
the filler of Clitus, his nurfe, and offer her a hand 
imbrued in her brother's blood? Upon this he threw 
himfelf on his friend's body, forced out the javelin, 
and would have difpatched himfelf with it, had not 
the guards, who ruined in upon him, laid hold of his 
hands, and forcibly carried him into his own apart- 
ment. 

. He paffed that night and the next day in tears. 
After that groans and lamentations had quite wafted 
his fpirits, he continued fpeechlefs, ftretched on the 
ground, and only venting deep fighs. But his 
friends, fearing his filence would be fatal, forced 
themfelves into his chamber. The king took very 
little notice of the words that were employed to com- 
fort 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 



y> 



fort him ; but Ariftarader the fbothfayer, putting 
him in mind of a dream, in which he had 'imagined 
he faw Clitus, cloathed in a black robe, and feared at 
table; and declaring, that all which had then hip- 
pened, was appointed by the eternal decree of fate, 
Alexander appeared a little eafier in his mind. Me 
next was addrefTed by two phdoiophers, C^iitlienes 
and Anaxarchus. The former went up to hico with 
an air of humanity and tenderriefs, and ehde&vcAji ed 
to fupprefs his grief, by agreeably rfr'finuafing 'Tim 
and endeavoured to make him recall his reafon, &v 
reflections of a folid nature, drawn from the very of- 
fence of phHofophy, and by caix^ully fhunning all 
frich expreffions as might renew his affliction, and 
fret a wound, whicn, as it was ftili bleeding, re- 
quired to be- touched with the gentled hand. But 
Anaxarchus did not obferve this decorum : \\r; t'.e 
moment he entered, he cried aloud, <c Flow 1 i's [-his 
(c Alexander, on whom the eyes of the svhok world 
" are fixed ? Behold him here extended on the ;I *or, 
fhedding floods of tears, like the rneaneft fr.iv'c ! 
Does r,o: he know, that he himfeif is a fifj.*FciTi'e 
law to his fubjects ; that he conquered merely to 
raife himfeif to the exalted dignity of a lord and 
fovereign, and not to fubject himfeif to a vain 
* £ opinion?" The king was determined to ftarve 
i himfeif f fo that it was with the urmoft difficulty 
'that his friends prevailed with him to take a little 
fuflenance. The Macedonians declared by a decree-, 
'that Clitus had been very juftly killed ; to which 
i decree Anaxarchus the philofopher hi ad given occa'- 
fion, by afferting, that the will of princes is the fu~ 
Ipreme law of the (late, Alas ! how weak are all 
fuch reflections- againft the cries of a juftiy alarmed 

confcience 3 



196 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER., 

confcience, which can never be quieted, either bf 
flattery or falfe arguments ! 

Alexander, after continuing ten days in Maracan- 
da, in order to recover his fpirits,marched into Xenip- 
pa, a province bordering upon Scythia, ; whither 
fome rebels were retired, all whom he fubj.eel:ed, 
and gave them a free pardon. From thence he- fe$ 
forward with his army towards the rock Chorieniis, 
cf which SyMmethres was governor. All accefs to 
k fcemed abfolutely impracticable ; neverthelefs, 
he at lall got near it, after having pafTed through 
numberlels difiiculties ; and, by the mediation of 
of Oxartes, a prince of that country who had adher- 
ed to Alexander, he prevailed with Syfimethres to 
furrender.. The king after this left h-im the govern- 
ment of that place, and promifed him very great ad- 
vantages in cafe he continued faithful. 

Alexander had refbl ved to attack the Dahse, becaufe 
Spitamenes, the chief of the rebels, was among them » 
but the felicity which always attended him > fpared 
him that labour.. The wife of this Barbarian, being 
no longer able to bear the vagabond, wretched life 
her hufband had forced her to lead, and having often 
in treated him,, but in vain, to furrender himfelf to 
the conqueror* fhe herfelf murthered him in the 
night ; and,, quite covered with his blood, went and 
carried his head to the king. Alexander was fhock- 
ed at fo horrid a fpectacle, and ordered her to be 
driven ignominioufly from the camp. 

Alexander, after having drawn his army out of 
the garrifons, where they had wintered three months, 
marched towards a country called Gabaza. In his 
way he met with a dreadful Itorm of rain, mixed 
with hai), and ib extreme was the cold in t > ;un- 



THE LIFE OF A'LBXANDftft. Ip7 

try, that it froze the rain as foon as it fell. The 
fufFerings of the army on this occafiun were infup- 
portable. The king, who- was the only perfon invin- 
cible to theie calamities, rode up and down among 
the foldiers ; comforted and animated them; and 
pointing at fnoke which iilued- from fume- diftant 
huts, intreated them to march to them with all the 
fpeed poiTible. Having given orders for the felling* 
of a great number of trees, and laying them in heaps 
up and down, he had fires made in different places, 
and by this means faved the army, but upwards of a* 
thoufand men loft their lives-.. The king made up 
to the officers and foldiers the federal lofles they had 
fuftained during this fatal ftorra. 

When they were recovered fo well as to be able to» 
march, he went into the country of.the Sacae, which 
he foon over-run and laid wafte. Soon after this, 
Oxarthes received him in his palace, and invited him* 
to-a fumptuous banquet, in which he difplaved all 
the magnificence of the Barbarians. He ha 1 a 
daughter, called Roxana, a young lady whole exqu*- 
£ne beauty was heightened by all the charms of w:c 
and good fen fe. Alexander found her charms irre- 
futable, .and made her his wife p covering his-pauiom 
with the fpecious pretence of uniting the two-nation:;, 
in fuch bands as fhould improve their mutual har- 
mony, by blending their inter-flay and Lhnowing 
down all diftinctions between the conquerors af)d1 
Uie conquered. This marriage difpieafed the Ma- 
cedonians very much, and exafperated his ehie& 
courtiers, to fee him make one of his flares hi*: fath- 
er in-law : but as, after his -murdering Clitusj noone: 
dared to fpeak to him with freedom, they applauded 
whai he. did. with their eyes and countenances, w 

11 z. cam 



19$ THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER*. 

can adapt themfelves wonderfully to flattery andfer- 
vile complacency. 

In Mne y having fefolved to march into India*. 
and embark from thence on- the ocean, he- com- 
manded (in order that nothing might be left behind: 
to check his defigns) that thirty thoufand young men 
ihould be brought hiim* alk completely armed, out; 
of the feveral provinces, to fer.ve him at. the fame 
time as hoftages- and foldiers. In the mean while,., 
he fentCraterus againft fome of' the rebels, whom he.: 
eafily. defeated^ 

All things being- ready for their fetting: out, he- 
thought proper to reveal, the defign he had fo long 
meditated, viz. to have divine honours paid him $ 
and was folely intent on the means for putting that 
dedgn in execution-. He was refolved,, not only to. 
be called,, but. to be believed, the fon of Jupiter,. 
He therefore appointed; a. feftiv.al^and-: made an in- 
credibly pompous banquet^ to. which he invited^ 
the great-elk lords, o£ his court,, both Macedonians 
and Greeks, and moll of the higheft quality among' 
the PerGans.. W.ith.thefe he fat down at table for 
fqme time,, after; which he withdrew.. Upon this, 
Cleon, one of his flatterers,, began to fpeak,,and exv 
patiaced very muchon.the praifes of the king, as had; 
before been agreed upon. He made a. long detail 5 
of the high, obligations, they had, to him, alii 
which (he obferved) they might acknowledge and 
repay at a very, eafy expence, merely with two grains- 
of incenfe, which they mould offer him as to a god 37 
without the leaft fcruple*. fince they believed him ( 
fuch. To this purpofe he' cited the example of the 
Fenians. He took notice, that. Hercules himfdf, 
Ar^i Bacchus, were not ranked among the deir.. 

il 



THIS LIFE OF ALEXANDER, T()$ 

Bill after they had furirrounted the envy of their co- 
temporaries. That in cafe the reft mould not care- 
to pay this juftice to Alexander's merit, he himfelf 
was refolvcd to fhovv them the way 3 . and to worfhip 
him if he fhould come into the hall. But that all of 
them muftdo their duty, efpecially thofe that pro- 
feffed. wifdonv, who ought to ferv.e to the reft as an ; 
example of the veneration due to fo great a monarch. 
It appeared plainly that this fpeech was directed 1 
to Callifthenes,. He ; was related to Ariftotle,whohad; 
prefented him to Alexander his pupil, that he might 
attend upon that monarch in. the war of Perfia. He 
was confidered,. upon account of his wifdom and; 
gravity, as the fitteft perfon to give him fuch coun- 
fel, as was moft capable of preferving him from thofe 
exce!Tes,,into which his youth and fiery temper might 
hurry him : but he was accufed of not poftefling the 
gentle, infinuating. behaviour of courts ; and of not. 
knowing, a., certain: medium^ between grovelling 
complacency,, and inflexible obftinacy. Ariftotle 
had attempted, but to no.purpofe, to foften the feyer- 
ity of his temper - s and forefeeing the ill confequen- 
ces, with which his difagreeable liberty of fpeaking 
his mind might be attended,, he ufed often to re- 
peat the following verfe of Homer to him -^ 

,c My fan thy freefomswill ahridgs thy days," 

And his prediction was but too true.. This phi- 
lofopher, feeing that e^ery, one, on this occafion^ 
continued in deep filence,, and that the eyes of the 
whole aflembly were fixed, on him, made a fpeech, 
which was doubtlefs juft enough,. However, it often- 
happens, when a fubjectis bound in duty to oppofe 
the inclinations of his fovereign, that the moft .cau- 
tious and moft refpeftful zeahis confidered as info- 
knee.- 



200 THE LIFE- OF ALEXANDER. 

knee and rebellion, cc Had the king (faid he) been' 
&c prefent when thou madeft thy fpeech, none among; 
*? us would then have attempted to anfwer thee, for 
" he himfelf would have interrupted thee, and not 
" have fuffered thee to prompt him to a flu me the 
" cuftoms of Barbarians,, in cafting an odium on his- 
c * perfon and glory, by fo fervile an adulation, but 
* f fince he is abfent, I will anfwer thee in his name. 
" I confider Alexander as worthy of all the honours 
" that can be paid a mortal ; but there is a difference 
u between the worfhip of the gods and that of men. 
" The former includes temples, altars, prayers, and 
(€ facrifices ; the latter is confined to praifes only, 
" and awful refpec"t. We faiute the latter, and look 
** upon it as glorious to pay them fubmiflion, obe- 
<c dience, and fidelity j but we adore the former, we 
a inftitute feftivals to their honour, and fing hymns 
a and fpiritual fongs to their glory. The worfhip 
•« cf the gods does itfelf vary, according to their 
« rank j and the homage we pay to Caitor and Pol- 
t* lux, is not like that with which we adore Mercury 
« and Jupiter. We mud not therefore confound: 
e* all things, either bv bringing down thegods to the 
« condition of mortals, or by raifing a mortal to the* 
« fhteof. a god* Alexander would bejuftly offend- 
« ed fhjuld we pay to another perfon the homage 
<< due to his faded perfon only ; ought we not to 
<f dread the indignation of the gods as much, mould' 
<< we beflow upon mortals, the honours. due to them. 
<< alone I I arn fenfible that our monarch is vaftly, 
« fupenor, to the reft ; he is the greateft of kings^ 
« and the mod glorious of ail conquerors ;. but then. 
" he is a man, not a god. To obtain this title, he. 
« muitfirft be divefted of his mortal frames but 

"- this.. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 2©* 

* f this is greatly our intereft to wifh may not happen, 
" but as Lite as poffible. The Greeks did not wor- 
,c ih'iD Hercules till after his death ; and that not 
" till the oracle had exprefsly commanded it. The 
" Perfians are cited as an example for our imitation j 
" but how long is it that the vanquifhed have given 
f* law to the victor ? Can we forget that Alexander 
* c croffed the Hellefpont, not to iubject Greece to 
!■' Alia, but Afia to Greece I" 

The deep filence which all the company obfervedt 
whiltl Caliiilhenes fpoke, was an indication, in fume 
meafure, of their thoughts. The king who Itood be- 
hind the tapeftry all :he time, heard whatever nad 
paffed. He thereupon ordered Cleon to be told, 
That without infilling any farther, he would only 
require the Periians to fall proftrate, according to 
their ufual cuftom j a little after which he came in, 
pretended he had been bufied in form, affair of im- 
portance. Immediately the Peril -ns fell proftrate to 
adore him. Polyfperchon, who flood near him, ob- 
ferving that one of them bowed fo low that his chin 
touched the ground, bid him, in a rallying tone of 
voice to ftrike harder. The king, offended at this 
joke, threw Polyfperchon into prifon, and broke up 
the affembly. However he afterwards pardoned 
him, but Callifthenes was not fo fortunate. 

To rid himfelf of him, he laid to his charge a crime 
of which he was no ways guilty, Hermolaus,one of 
the young officers who attended upon the king in all 
places, had, upon account of fome private pique, 
formed a confpiracy againft him; but it was very 
happily difcovered, the inftant it was to be put ia 
execution. The criminals were feized, put to the 
e 3 and executed, Not one among them had 

ac.cu.fed 



202 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

accufed Callifthenes ; but having been very intimate 
with Herrnolaus, that alone was fufficient. Accord- 
ingly he was thrown in«to a dungeon, loaded with 
irons, and the moft grievous torments were in Aided 
on him, in order to extort a confefnon of guilt. 
But he infifted upon his innocence to the laft, and 
expired in the midft of his tortures. 

Alexander, by this dreadful example, deprived alf 
virtuous men of the opportunity of exhorting him to 
thofe things which were for his true intereft. From 
that inftant no one fpoke with freedom in the coun- 
cil j even thofe, who had the greateft love for the 
public good, and a peifonal affection for Alexander, 
thought themfcl/es not obliged to undeceive him. 
After this, nothing was liftened to but flattery, which 
gained fuch an afcendant over that prince, as entire!'/ 
depraved him, and ju-ftly puniOied him, for having 
facrificed, to the wild ambition of having adoration 
paid him, the moft virtuous man about his perfen. 

Sect. XIV. Alexander fets out for India. He be- 
fieges and takes fiver al cities which appeared im- 
pregnable, and is often in danger of his life. He 
erojfes the river Indus % afterwards the tiydafpes, 
and gains a fignal victory over Porus, whom he 
rejiores to his throne. 

Alexander, to flop the murmurs and difcon- 
tents which arofe among his foldiers, fets out for In- 
dia. He had read in the ancient fables of Greece, 
that Bacchus and Hercules, both" fons of Jupiter, as 
himielf was, had marched fo far. He was determi- 
ned 



THE LIFE 0F ALEXANDER. 20 v ? 

ned not to be furpafifed by them: and there were not 
wancing flatterers, who applauded this wild, chime- 
rical defign. Alexander having entered India, all 
the petty kings of thefe countries came to meet him, 
and make their fubrnifiion. They declared that he 
was the third Ton of Jupiter, who had arrived in their 
country: that they had known Bacchus and Hercu- 
les no otherwife than by fame -, but as for Alexan- 
der, they had the happinefs to fee him, and to enjoy 
his prelence. The king received them with the ut- 
moft humanity, commanding them to accompany 
Jiim, and ferve him as guides. As no more of them 
-came in to pay their homage, he detached Hephaef- 
tion and Perdicas with part of his forces, command- 
ing them to fubdue all who mould refufe to fubmit. 
But finding he was obliged to crofs feveral rivers, he 
caufed boats to be built in fuch a form, that they 
could be taken to pieces ; the feveral parrs of them 
to be carried upon waggons, and afterwards put toge- 
ther again. Then, having commanded Craterus to 
follow him with his phalanx, he himfelfmarched before, 
with his cavairy and light armed troops ; and, after a 
ilight engagement, he defeated thofe whohad dared to 
make head againft him, and purfued them to the next 
city, into which they fled. Craterus being come up, 
the king, in order to terrify, on a fudden, thofe nations 
who had not yet felt the power of the Macedonian 
arms, commanded his foldiers to burn down the for- 
tifications of that place, which he beiieged in a re- 
gular way, and to put all the inhabitants of it to the 
iword. But as he was going round the walls on horfe- 
back, he was wounded by an arrow. Notwithft-and- 
ing this accident, he took the city, after which, he 

made 



204 THE LIFE 0F ALEXANDI 

made dreadful havock of all the foldiers and 'inhabi- 
tants, and did not fo much as fpare the h 

After fubduing this nation, which w as of great 
confequence, he marched towards the city of Nyfa, 
and encamped pretty near its walls, behind a foreft 
that hid it. The befreged having attempted a fall/ 
with ill fuccefs, a faction arofe in the city, fome be- 
ing of opinion, that it would be bed for them to fur- 
render, whilft others were for holding out the fiege. 
This coming to the king's ear, he only blocked up 
the city, and did not do the inhabitants any further 
injury ; till at laft tired out with the length of the ; 
fiege, they furrendered at difcretion. 

He marched from thence to a country called Dx- 
dala, which had been abandoned by the inhabitants, 
who had fled for (belter to inacceffible mountains, as 
alfo thofc of Acedera, into which he afterwards en- 
tered. This obliged him to change his method of 
war, and to difperfe his forces in different places, by 
which means the enemy were all defeated at once : 
no refiftance was made any where, and thofe who 
were fo courageous as to wait the coming up of the 
Macedonians, were all cut to pieces. Ptolemy took 
feveral little cities the inftant he fat down before 
them : Alexander carried the large ones, and, after 
uniting all his forces, parled the river * Choafpes, 
and left Ccenus to befiege a rich and populous city, 
called Bazica by the inhabitants. 

He afterwards marched towards Magofa, whofe 
king, called ArTacanus, was lately dead, and Cleo- 
phes, his mother, ruled the province and city. 
There were thirty thoufand foot in it, and both na- 
ture and art feemed to have united their endeavours 

in 

* This is not the Choafpes ixhkb run* by Su/a* 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 20$ 

in raifing its fortifications; for towards theeaft, it is 
furrounded with a, very rapid river, the banks of 
which are deep, and difficult of accefs ; and on the 
weft are high craggy rocks, at the foot whereof are 
caves, which, through length of time, had increafed 
into a kind of abyffes ; and where thefe fail, a trench, 
of an aftonifning height, is raifed with incredible 
labour. 

Whilft Alexander was going round the city, to 
view its fortifications, he was (hot with an arrow in 
the calf of his leg ; but he only pulled out the 
weapon; and, without fo much as binding up the 
the wound, mounted his horie, and continued^to 
view the outward fortifications of the city. But as 
he rode with his leg downwards, and the congealing 
of the blood put him to great pain, it is related that 
he cried, c< Every one fwears that I am the fon of 
<c Jupiter, but my wound makes me fenfible that 
<c I am a man." However, he did not leave the 
place till he had fee n every thing ; and given all the 
necefTary orders. Some of the foldiers, therefore, 
demolifhed fuch houfes as ftood without the city, 
and with the rubbifh. of them they filled up the 
gulphs above mentioned. Others threw great trunks 
of trees and huge (tones into them ; and all labour- 
ed with fo much vigour, that in nine days the works 
were completed, and the towers were raifed upon 
them. 

The king, without waiting till his wound was 
healed, vifited the works, and after applauding the 
foldiers for their great difpatch, he caufed the en- 
gines to be brought forward, whence a great num- 
ber of darts were difcharged againft thofe who de- 
fended the walls, But that which mod terrified the; 
S Barbarians, 



206 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

Barbarians, was thofe towers of a vafi: height, which 
ieemed to them to move of tbemfelves. This made 
them imagine, that they were made to advance by 
the gods, and that thofe battering rams which beat 
down walls, and the javelins thrown by engines, the 
like of which they had never feen, could not be the 
effect of human ftrength ; fo that, perfuaded that it 
would be impoflible for them to defend the city, 
they withdrew into the citadel ; but not finding 
themfelves more fecure there, they fent ambafladors 
to propofe a furrender. The queen afterwards came 
and met Alexander, attended by a great number of 
ladies, who all brought him wine in cups, byway of 
jacrifice. The king gave her a very gracious re- 
ception, and reftored her to her kingdom. 

From hence Poiyfpherchon was fent with an army 
to befiege the city of Ora, which he foon took. More 
of its inhabitants had withdrawn to the rock called 
Arnos. There was a tradition, that Hercules having 
befieged this rock, an earthquake had forced him to 
quit the fiege. T here are not on this rock, as on 
many others, gentje declivities of eafy accefs 5 but 
it riles like 1 bank; and being very wide at the 
bottom, grows narrower all the way to the top, which 
terminates in a point. The river Indus, whole fourcc 
is not far from this place, flows at the bottom, its 
fides being perpendicular, and high; and on the 
other fide were vaft morafles, which it was necefTa- 
ry to fill up before the rock could be taken. Very 
happily for the Macedonians, they were near a foreth 
This the king had cut down, commanding his fbld- 
icrs to cany off nothing but the trunks, the branch- 
« of which were lopped, in order that they might 
Lwvsitt! with the iefs difficulty i and he- himfelf 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. lO^J 

threw the firft trunk into the morafs. The army 
feeing this, fnouted for joy, and every foldier la- 
bouring with incredible diligence, the work was 
fimfhed in feven days ; immediately after which the 
attack began. The officers were of opinion, that it 
would not be proper for the king to expofe himfdf 
on this occafion, the danger being evidently too great. 
However, the trumpet no fooner founded, but this 
prince, who was not mailer of his courage, com- 
manded his guards to follow, himfelf firft climbing 
the rock. At this fight it appeared no longer inac- 
ceflible, and every one flew after him. Never we*e 
foldiers expofed to greater danger ; many fell from 
the rock into the river, whole whirlpools fwallowed 
them up. The Barbarians rolled great Hones on 
thefoiemofr, who being fcarce able to keep upon their 
feet (the rock was fo flippery) fell down the precipices, 
and were darned to pieces. No' fight could pof- 
fibly be more dif.nal than this ; the king greatly 
afflicted at the lofs of fo many brave foldiers, caufeel 
a retreat to be founded.. Neverthelefs, though b« 
had loft all hopes of taking the place, and was deter- 
mined to raife the fiege, he acted as if he intended 
to continue it, and accordingly gave orders for bring- 
ing forward the towers and other engines. The 
beneged, by way of infult, made great rejoicings $ 
and continued their feftivity for two days and two 
nights, making the rock, and the whole neighbour- 
hood, echo wich the found of their drums and cym- 
b Is. But the third night they were not heard, and 
the Macedonians were fuprifed to fee every part of 
the rock illuminated with torches. The king was 
I informed, that the Indians had lighted them to a Hi ft 
their flight, and to guide them the more eafily in 

thofe 



208 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

thofe precipices, during the obfcurity of the night. 
Immediately the whole army, by Alexander's order, 
ihouted aloud, which terrified the fugitives fo much, 
thatfevcral of them fancying they faw the enemy, 
Hung tbemfelvesfrom the top of the rock, and perill- 
ed miferably. The king having fo happily and un- 
expectedly poflefTed himfelf of the rock, in an almofl 
jniracuious manner, thanked the gods, and offered 
lacrifice in their honour. 

From hence he marched and took Ecbolimus ; 
and after fix teen days march arrived at the river 
Indus, where he found that Hephseftion had got all 
things ready for his pafTage, purfuant to the orders 
given him. The king of the country, called Om- 
phis, whofe father d ; ed fome time before, had fent 
to Alexander to know whether he would give him 
leave to wear the crown, Notwithstanding the Ma- 
cedonian told him he might, he neverthelefs delayed 
putting it on till his arrival. He then went to 
meet htm, with his whole army : and when Alexan- 
der was advanced pretty near, he pufhed forward his 
horfe, came up fingly to him, and the king did the 
fame. The Indian then told him by an interpreter, 
" That he was come to meet him at the head of his 
tfc army, in order to deliver up all his forces into 
" his hands. That he furrendered his perfon and 
" his kingdom to a monarch, who, he was fenfible, 
" fought only with the view of acquiring glory, and 
<c dreaded nothing fo much as treachery." The 
king greatly fatisrled with the franknefs of .the Bar- 
barian, gave him his hand, and reftored him his 
kingdoms. He then made Alexander a prefent of 
fihy fix elephants, and a great number of other ani- 
mals of prodigious fize. Alexander afking him which 

v.ere 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 20'< ; 

were rrioft necefTary to him, huffcaftdmen or ickliers ? 
he replied, that as he was at war with two kings, t\-: 
latter were of gteateft fervice to him. Thefe two 
monarchs were Abifares and Porus, the latter of 
whom was mofl powerful, and the dominions of both 
were fituated on the other fide. of the Hydafpes. 
Omphis aflumed the diadem, and took the name of 
Taxilus, by which the kings of that country Were 
called. He made magnificent preients to Alexan- 
der, who did riot fuffer himfelf to be exceeded in 
generofity. 

The next day, ambaffadors from Abifares wait- 
ing upon the king, furrendered up to him purfuant 
to the power given them, all the dominions of their 
fovereign ; and after each paFty had promifed fide- 
lity on both fides, they returned back. 
l^ Alexander expecting that Porus, aftonifhed with 
rue report of his glory, would not fail to fubmk to 
hitti, fent a meflage^to that prince, as if he had been 
his vaffal, requiring him to pay tribute, and meet 
him upon the frontiers of his dominions. Poms 
anfwered with great coldnefs, that he would do {o, 
but it mould be fword in hand. At the fame time, 
a reinforcement of thirty elephants, which were of 
great fervice, were fent to Alexander. He gave the 
fuperintendance of his elephants to Taxilus, and ad- 
vanced as far as the borders of the Hydafpes. Po- 
rus was encamped on the other fide of it, in order to 
difpute the pafiage with him j and had polled at the 
head of his army eighty- five elephants of a prodigious 
fize, and behind them three hundred chariots, guard- 
ed by thirty thoufand foot ; not haying, auuoft, 
above feven thoufand horfe. This prince was 
mounted on an elephant of a much larger fize tha;* 

S 2 any 



2 JO THE LTFE OF ALEXANDER, 

any of the reft, 3nd he himfelf exceeded the ufual 
ftature of men ; fo that, clothed in his armour 
glittering with gold and filver, h» appeared at the 
fame time terrible and majeftlck. The greatnefs of 
his courage equalled that of his ftature, and he was 
as wife and prudent as is poffrble for the monarch of 
fo bar barons, a people to be. 

The Macedonians dreaded not only the enemy, 
but the river they were obliged to pafs. It was four 
furlongs wide (about four hundred fathoms) and fo 
deep in every part, that it looked like a fea, and was 
no where fordable. It was vaftly impetuous, not- 
withstanding its great breadth ; for it roiled with as. 
much violence, as if it had been confined to a nar- 
row channel ; and its raging, foaming waves, which 
broke in many places, difcovered that it was full of 
ftones and rocks.. However, nothing was fo dread- 
ful as the appearance of the fnore, which was quite 
covered with men, horfes, and elephants. Thofe 
hideous animals ftood like fo many towers, and the 
Indians exafperated them, in order that the horrid 
cry they made might fill the enemy with greater ter- 
ror. However this could not intimidate an armyo£ 
men, whofe courage was proof againft all attacks, 
and who were animated by an uninterrupted feries of 
profperities 5. but then they did not think it would 
be poftible for them, as their barks were fo crazy, to 
fiirmount the rapidity of the ftream, or land witli 
faftty. 

This river was full of little i Hands, to which the 

Indians and Macedonians ufed to fwim, with their 

arms over their heads ; and flight (kirmifhes were 

every day fought in the fight of the two kings, who 

well pealed to make thole fmall excurfions cf 

tltcijB 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 211 

their refpective forces, and to form a judgment from 
fuch fkirmifhes, of the fuccefs of a general battle. 
There were two young officers in Alexander's army, 
Egefimachus and Nicanor, men of equal intrepidity, 
and who, having been ever fuccefsfui, defpifed dan- 
gers of every kind. They took with them the bra- 
ved youths in the whole army : and, with no other 
weapons than their javelins, fwam to an lfland in 
which feveralof the enemy were landed; where,with 
fcarce any other affiflance but their intrepidity, they 
made a great flaughter. After this bold ftroke, 
they might have retired with glory, were it poflible 
for rafhnefs, when fuccefsfui, to keep within bounds. 
But as they waited with contempt, and an infulting 
air, for thene who came tofuccour their companions, 
they were furrounded by a band of foldiers, who had 
fwam unperceived to the ifland, and overwhelmed 
with the darts which were fhot from far. Thofe 
who endeavoured to fave themfelves by fwimming, 
were either carried away by the waves, or fwallowed 
up by the whirlpools. The courage of Porus, who 
faw all this from the fhore, was furprifingly increafed 
by this fuccefs. 

Alexander was in great perplexity ; and finding he 
could not pafs the Hydafpes by force of arms, he 
therefore refolved to have reconrfe to artifice. Ac- 
cordingly he caufed his cavalry to attempt (evcrai 
times to pafs it in. the night, and to (hout as if they 
really intended to ford the river, all things being 
prepared for that purpofe. Immediately Porus hur- 
ried thither with his elephants, but Alexander con- 
tinued in-battle- array on the bank. This ftratagem 
having been attempted feveral times, and Porus 
finding the whole was but mere noife and empty me- 

nacesj 



'112. THE LIFE OP ALEXANDHR. 

naces, he took no farther notice of thefe motions, 
and only lent fcouts to every part of the fhore. 
Alexander, being now no longer apprehenfive of ha- 
lving the whole army of the enemy fall upon him, in 
his attempting to crofs the river in the night, began 
to refolve ferioufly to pafs it. 

There was in this river, at a confiderablc diftance 
from Alexander's camp, an ifland of greater extent 
than any of the reft. This being covered with trees, 
was very proper for him to cover anil conceal his de- 
fign, and therefore he refolved to attempt the paflage 
that way. However, the better to conceal the 
knowledge of it from the enemy, and deceive them 
on this occaflon, he left Craterus in his camp with a 
great part of the army, with orders for them to make 
a- great noife, at a certain time which fhould be ap- 
pointed, m order to aiarrn the Indians, and make 
them believe that he was preparing to crofs the ri- 
ver 5 but that he would not attempt this, till fuch 
time as Poms fhould have raifed his camp, and 
marched away his elephants, either to withdraw or 
advance towards thofe Macedonians who ffaould at- 
tempt the paffage. Between the camp and the 
ifland, he had pofted Meleager and Gorgias, with the 
foreign horfe and foov, with orders for them to pafs 
over in bodies, the inftant they fhould fee him en- 
gaged in battle. 

After giving thefe orders, he took the reft of his 
army, as well cavalry as infantry ; and, wheeling off 
from the fhore, in order to avoid being perceived, he 
advanced in the night time towards- the ifland into 
which he was refolved to go -, and the better to de- 
ceive the enemy, Alexander caufed his tent to be 
pitched in the camp where he had left Craterus, 

which 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 21$ 

which was oppofite to that of Porus. His life- 
guards were drawn up round, in ail- the pomp and 
fplendour with which the majefty of a great king is 
ufually furrounded. He alfo caufed a royal robe to 
be put upon Atalus, who was of the fame age with 
himfelf, and fo much reiembled the king, both in 
ftature and features, efpecially at fo great a diftance 
as the breadth of the river, that the enemy might 
fuppofe Alexander himfelf was on. the bank, and was 
attempting the pafiage of that place. He however 
was by this time got to the iftand above-mentioned, 
and immediately landed upon it from the boats, with 
the reft of his troops, whillt the enemy was employed 
in oppofing Craterus. But now a furious ftorm 
arofe, which feemed as if it would retard the execu- 
tion of his project, yet proved of advantage to it s 
for fo fortunate was this prince, that obftacles chan- 
ged into advantages, and fuccours in his favour : the 
ilorm was fucceeded by a very violent mower, with 
impetuous winds, flafhes of lightning and thunder, 
infomuch that there was no hearing or feeing any 
thing. Any man but Alexander would have aban- 
doned his defign j but he, on the contrary, was ani- 
mated by danger, not to mention that the noife, the 
confufion, and the darknefs, afiifted his paflfage. 
He thereupon made the fignal for the embarkation 
of his troops, and went off himfelf in the nrft boat. 
It is reported, that it was on this occafion he cried 
out, <f O Athenians, could you think I would ex- 
" pofe myfelf to fuch dangers, to merit your ap- 
<f plaufe f" And, indeed, nothing could contribute 
more to eternize his name, than the having his ac- 
tions recorded by fuch great hiflorians as Thucy- 
dides and Xenophon $ and fo anxious was he about 
S 3 the 



214 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

the character which would be given him after his 
death, that he wifhed it were poflible for him to re- 
turn again into the world only fo long as was necef- 
fary to know what kind of impreffion the perufal of 
his hiftory made on the minds of men. 

Scarce any perfon appeared to oppofe their def- 
ccnty becaufe Porus was wholly taken up with Cra- 
tcrus, and imagined he had nothing to do but to 
oppofe his paffage. Immediately this general, pur- 
fuant to his orders, made a prodigious clamour, and 
feemed to attempt the paffage of the river. Upon 
this, ail the boats came to more, one excepted,which 
the waves dafhed to pieces againft a rock. The 
moment Alexander was landed, he drew up in order 
of battle his little army, confifting of fix thoufand 
foot and five thoufand horfe. • He himfelf headed the 
latter ; and, having commanded the foot to make 
ail imaginabledifpatch after him, he marched before. 
It was his firm opinion, that in cafe the Indians 
mould oppofe him with their whole force, his cavalry 
would give him infinite advantage over them ; and 
that, be this as it would, he. might eafily continue 
fighting till his foot ihould come up ; or, that in 
cafe the enemy, alarmed at the news of his palling, 
.mould iiy, it would then be in his power to purfue, 
and make a great (laughter of them. 

Porus, upon hearing that Alexander had puffed 
the river, had fent againft him a detachment, com- 
manded by one of his fons, of two thoufand horfe, 
and one hundred and twenty chariots. Alexander 
imagined them at firft to be the enemy's van-guard, 
and that the whole army was behind them ; but, be- 
ing informed it was but a detachment, he charged 
them with fuch vigour, that Porus's fan was ki I 

upon 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 2\ $ 

Upon the fpot, with four hundred horfes, and all the 
chariots were taken. Each of thefe chariots carried 
fix men ; two were armed with bucklers, two bow- 
men fat on each fide, and two guided the chariot, 
who nevertheless always fought when the battle grew 
warm, having a great number of darts, which they 
difcharged at the enemy. But all thefe did little 
execution that day, becaufe the rain, which fell in 
great abundance, had moiftened the earth to fuch a 
degree, that the horfes could fcarce (land upon their 
legs ; and the chariots being very heavy, moft of 
them funk very deep into the mud. 

Porus, upon receiving advice of the death of his 
fon, the defeat of the detachment, and of Alexan- 
der's approach, was in doubt whether it would be 
proper for him to continue in his pod, becaufe Cra- 
terus, with the reft of the Macedonian army, made a 
feint as if they intended to pafs the river. However, 
he at lad refolved to go and meet Alexander, whom 
he juftly fuppofed to be at the head of the clioiceit 
troops of his army-. Accordingly, leaving only a few 
elephants in his camp, to amufe thofe who were pott- 
ed on the oppofite ihore, he kt out with thirty thou- 
fand foot, four thoufand horfe, three thoufand cha- 
riors, and two hundred elephants. Being come: into 
a firm, fandy foil, in which his horfes and chariots 
might wheel about with eafe, he drew up his army in 
battle-array, with an intent to wait the coming up 
of the enemy. He pofted in front, and on the firft 
; line, ail the elephants at an hundred feetdiftance one 
from the other, in order that they might krvc as a 
bulwark to his foot, who were behind, h was his 
opinion, that the enemy's cavalry would not dare to 
engage in thofe intervals, becaufe of the fear thofe 

horfes 



2l6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

horfes would have of the elephants ; and much lefs 
the infantry, when they mould fee that of the enemy 
pofted behind the elephants, and in danger of being 
trod to pieces by thofe animals. He had pofted 
fome of his foot on the fame line with the elephants, 
in order to cover their right and left ; and this in- 
fantry was covered by his two wings of horfe, before 
which the chariots were polled. Such was the order 
and difpofition of Porus's army. 

Alexander being come in fight of the enemy, 
waited the coming up of his foot, which marched 
with the ntmoft diligence, and arrived a little after : 
and, in order that they might have time to take 
breath, and not be led, as they were very much fa- 
tigued, againft the enemy, he caufed his horfe to 
make a great marfy evolutions, in order to gain time. 
But now every thing being ready, and the infantry 
having fufficiently recovered thair vigour, Alexan- 
der gave the lignal of battle. He did -not think 
proper to begin by attacking the enemy's main bo- 
dy, where the infantry and the elephants were pofted, 
for the very realbn which had made Porus draw them 
up in that manner: but his cavalry being ftronger, 
he drew out the greateft part of them ; and march- 
ing againft the left wing, fent Camus with his own 
regiment of horfe, and that of Demetrius, to charge 
them at the fame time ; ordering him to attack the 
cavalry on the left, behind, during which he himfelf 
would charge them both in front and flank. Se- 
leucug, Antigonus, and Tauron, who commanded 
the foot, were ordered not to ftir from their pofts, till 
Alexander's cavalry had put that of the enemy,* as 
well as their foot, into diforder. 

Being 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 1\J 

Being- come within arrow-mot, he detached a 
thoufand bowmen on horfeback, with orders for 
them to make their difcharge on the horfe of Porus's 
left wing, in order to throw it into dtforder, whilft he 
himfelf mould charge this body in flank, before it 
had time to rally. The Indians, having joined 
again their fquadrons, and drawn them up into a 
narrower compafs, advanced againft Alexander. At 
that inftant Ccenus charged them in the rear, ac- 
cording to the orders given him ; infomuch that the 
Indians wereobliged to face about on all fides, to 
defend thcmfelves from the thoufand bowmen, and 
againft Alexander and Ccenus. Alexander, to make 
the beft of the confufion into which this fudden at- 
tack had thrown them, charged with great vigour 
thofe that made head againft him, who being no 
longer able to ftand fo violent an attack, were fooa 

' broke, and retired behind the elephants, as to an im- 
pregnable-rampart. The leaders of the elephants 
made them advance againft the enemy's horfe ; bur, 

i that very inftant, the Macedonian phalanx moving 

' on a fudden, furrounded thofe animals, and charged 
with their pikes the elephants themfelves and their 
leaders. This battle was very different from all 
thofe which Alexander had hitherto fought ; for the 
elephants ruining upon the battalions, broke, witfi 

i inexprefllbJe -fury, the thicker! of them ; when the 
Indian horfe, feeing the Macedonian foot flopped by 
the elephants, returned to the charge; however, that 

\ of Alexander being ftronger, and having greater ex- 
perience in war, broke this body a fecond time, and 
obliged it to retire towards the elephants ; upon which 
the Macedonian horfe being all united in one body, 
fpread terror and confufion wherever they attacked. 
T The 



2l8- THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

The elephants being all covered with wounds, and 
thegreateft part having loll their leaders, rhty did 
not obferve their ufual order ; but, diftracted as it were 
with pain, no longer diftinguifhed friends from foes, 
but running about from place to place, they over- 
threw every thing that came in their way. The 
Macedonians, who had purpofely left a greater inter- 
val between their battalions, either made way for 
them wherever they came forward, or charged with 
darts thofe that fear and the tumult obliged to retire. 
Alexander, after having furrounded the enemy with 
his horfe, made a fignal to his foot to march up 
with ail imaginable fpeed, in order to make a lad 
effort, snd to fall upon them with his whole force, 
all which they executed very fuccefsfully. In this 
manner the greateft part of the Indian cavalry were 
cut to pieces j and a body of their foot, which fuf- 
tained no lofs, feeing themfelves charged on all fides, 
at lad fled. Craterus, who had continued in the 
camp with the reft of his army, feeing Alexander 
engaged with Porus, crofTed the river, and charging 
the routed foldiers with his troops, who were cool 
and vigorous, by that means killed as many enemies 
in the retreat, as had fallen in the battle. 

The Indians loft on this occafion twenty thoufand 
foot and three thoufand horfe ; not to mention the 
c hariots which were all broke to pieces, and the ele- 
phants that were either killed or taken. Porus's 
two fons fell in this battle, with Spitacus, governor 
of the province ; all the colonels of horfe and foot, 
and thofe who guided the elephants and chariots. 
As for Alexander, he loft but fourfcore of the fix 
thoufand foldiers who were at the firft charge, ten 
bowmen of the horfe, twenty of his horfe-guards, 
and two hundred common foldiers. Porus, 



THE LIFE GF ALEXANDER'. 2IO, 

Poms, after ha-ving performed all the duty both 
of a foldier and a general in the battle, and fought 
with incredible bravery, feeing all his horfe defeated, 
and the greateft part of his foot, did not behave like 
the great Darius, who, on a like difafter, was the firffc 
that fled 5 on the contrary, he continued in the field, 
as long as one battalion or fquadron flood their 
ground; but at 1 aft, having received a- wound in the* 
moulder, he retired upon his elephant v and was du- 
ly diftinguifhed from the reft, by the great nefs of 
his ftature, and his unparalleled bravery. Alexander 
finding who he was by thofe glorious marks, and be- 
ing defirous of faving this king, lent Taxilus after 
him, becaufe he was of the fame nation. The latter 
advancing as near to him as he might, without run- 
ning any danger of being wounded-, called out ro 
him to flop, in order to hear the meffage he bad 
brought him from Alexander. Porus turning back, 
and feeing it was Taxilus, his old enemy ; How I 
fays he, is it not Taxilus that calls, that traitor to his 
country and kingdom. Immediately-after which, he 
would have transfixed him with hisdart, had he not 
inftantly retired- Notwithftandiug this, Alexander 
was ftill defirous to fave fo brave a prince, and there- 
upon difpatched their officers, among whom was 
Meroe, one-of his intimate friends, who befought 
him, in the ftrongeft terms, to wait upon a conquer- 
or, altogether worthy of him. After much intreaty, 
Porus confented, and accordingly fet forward. Al- 
exander, who had been told of his coming, adva 
forward in order to receive him with fome of his 
train. Being come pretty near, Alexander ftopped^ 
purpofely to take a view of his ftature and noble 
naein 3 he being about five cubits in height. Porus 

did 



220 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

did not feem dejected at his misfortune, but carrre up 
with a refolute countenance, like a valiant warrie«r, 
whofe courage in defending his dominions ought to 
acquire him the efteeor of the brave prince who had 
taken him prifoner. Alexander fpoke firft, and with 
an augufl and gracious air, aflted him how he defired 
to be treated ? like a king, replied Porus. But, 
continued Alexander, do you afk nothing more ? 
No, replied Porus ; all things are included in that 
Jkigle word. Alexander, (truck with this greatnefs 
of foul, the magnanimity of which feemed heighten- 
ed by diflrefs, did not only reftore him his kingdom, 
but annexed other provinces to it, and treated him 
with the highefl: teftimonies of honour, efteem, and 
friendfhip. Porus alia continued faithful till his 
death. 

Si'.CT. XT. Alexander advances into India, Re- 
ives to march as far as the Ganges, which 
i/es a general dijcontent in his army. Remon- 
strances being made to him on that account, he lays 
afide his defign, and is contented with going no far- 
ther than the ocean.- He Jubdues alt things in his 
way thither, and is expofed to great danger at the 
jlege of the city of the Oxydracae -, and arriving at 
I aft at the ocean, he afterwards prepares for his re- 
turn into Europe. 

Alexander, after his famous victorvover Porus, [ 
advanced into India, where he fubdued a great many j| 
nations and cities. He looked upon himfelf as a 
conqueror by profefTion as weil as by his dignity, 
and engaged every day in new exploits with fo much 

ardour 



HE LIFE OF ALEXANDER,- 22V 

ardour and vivacity, that he Teemed to fancy himfelf ' 
inverted with a perfonal commiflion, and that there j 
was an immediate obligation upon him to ftorm all 
cities, to lay wafte all provinces, to extirpate all na- 
tions, which mould refufe his yoke 5 and that he* 
fhonld have confidered himfelf as guilty of a crime,, 
had he forebore vifuing every corner of the earth, 
and carrying terror and defolation wherever he went,. 
He parTed the Acefines, and afterwards the Hydrao- 
tes, two confiderable rivers.. Advice was^ then 
brought him that a great ntrmber of free Indians had 
made a confederacy to defend their liberties ; and- 
among the reft, the Caytheans, who were the mod 
valiant and the mod fkilful of thofe nations in the 
art of war -, and that they were encamped near a 
ftrong city, called Sangala. Alexander {^t oue 
againft thofe Indians, defeated them in a pitched 
battle, took the city, and razed it to the very fotm • 

j dacions. 

This prince being determined tocontinue the war 
as long as he mould meet with new nations, and to 
look upon them as enemies whilft they mould live 
independent on him, was meditating about paiTing 
the Hyphafus*, He was told, that after palling that 
river hemuft travel eleven days through defarts, and 
that then he would arrive at the Ganges, the greatefl: 
river in all India. That farther in the country lived 
the Gangarida, and the Prafii, whofe king was pre- 
paring to oppofe his entering his dominions, at the 

, head of twenty thoufand horfe, and- two hundred* 
thoufand foot, reinforced by two thoufand chariots ; 
i, which flruck the greateft terror, with three 
ufand elephants. A- report of this being fpreacl 
* rough the army, furprifed all the foldiers, and raw- 

T, 2- fed. 



222 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 



T 



fed a general murmer. The Macedonians, wh<3, 
after having travelled through fo many countries,, 
and being grown grey in the field, were inceflantly 
directing their eyes and wifhes toward their dear, 
native country, made loud complaints, that Alexan- 
der fhould every day heap war upon war, and danger 
on danger. They had undergone, but juft. before,, 
inexprerTibFe fatigues, for above two months.. Some 
bewailed their calamities iniuch terms as raifed com?- 
pafiion ;. others infoleatly cried, aloud, ; that, they, 
would go no farther. 

Alexander^ being informed of this tumult, imme*. 
djately fent for the officers into his tent, aud com> 
manded them to affemble his whole army, together,, 
he then .addreffedjhem.in the mod lively and pathe- 
tic^ language, beggings they would, not abandoa. 
him in the midft of his career to glory,. But findings 
it would be impoflible to change the refolution of the; 
ibldiers, he commanded them to prepare for their; 
return* This news tailed the whole army with inex- 
greflible joy -.:.. and Alex ajider.ney.er appeared greater,, 
or more glorious, than on this day, in which he dc? 
iigned,,for the fake of his.fubjefits, to facrifice fome 
part of his glory and : grandeur.. The whole camp 
echoed with prajfe and bjeflings of Alexander, for ^ 
having fufifered himfejf to be overcome by his owq ( 
army, who was invincible to the reft of the world. 

Alexander had not, fpent above three or four? 
months in conquering all the country, between the- 
Indus ajid Bypnajefs, .called to this day Pengab, that: 
is, the five waters, from the five rivers, which com-- 
gofe it. Before his fetting out, he raifed twelve al<? 
tars,, to ferve as fo many trophies and thankfgivings, 
for the victories, he had obtained.. 



I 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER 2EJ$ 

He afterwards patted the Hydraotes, and left Po 
r.us all the lands he had conquered, as far as the Hyr 
phasfus. He alfo reconciled this monarch with 
Taxilus,.and fettled a. peace between them. by means 
of an aHiance,,equally advantageous toboth. From 
thencehe went and, encamped on. the banks of the 
Acefines r but great rains having made this river 
overflow its banks, and the adjacent countries being 
under water,, he was obliged to remove his- camp 
higher up. Here a fit of ficknefs carried off Ccenus,.. 
whofe. lofs was bewailed by the king and the whole 
army* There was not a greater officer among the 
Macedonians, and. he had diftinguifbed himfelf in a. 
very peculiar manner in every, battle in which he 
engaged. But now. Alexander was preparing for 
his departure*. 

His fleet. con lifted of eight hundred vefTels, as well 
gallies as boats, to carry the troops, and provifions. 
Every thing being.ready, the whole army embarked^ 
about the fetting of the Pleiades or feven ftars, ac- 
cording to Ariftobulus,. that is,, about the end of 
October. The fifth, day, the fleet arrived .where the 
Hydafpes and Acefines^ mix their firearm. Here 
the fhips were very much mattered, becaufe thefe 
rivers unite with fuch prodigious rapidity,, that as 
great dorms arife in this part, as in the open fea. 
At laft he came into, the country, of the. Oxydraca* 
and the Malli, the moft valiant, people.in thofe parts. 
Thefe were perpetually at war one with another -, but 
having, united for, their mutual fafety, they had 
drawn together ten thoufand horfe, and fourfcore. 
thoufand foot, all vigorous young men, with nine, 
hundred chariots.. However, Alexander defeated 
them in feyerai engagements,, difpofTeiTed them of 

feme 



£24- ' rH S LIFE OF ALEXANDE&V. 



fome ftrong holds, and at Jaft marched againfi: the- 
city of the Oxydracce, whither the greateft part were- 
retired. Immediately he caufes the fcaling-ladders 
to be fet up ; and, as they were not nimble enough 
for Alexander, he forces one of the fcaling-ladders 
from a foldier ; runs up the firft (covered with his 
fliield).and gets to the top of the wall, followed only 
by Peuceftes and Limneus. The foldiers, believing 
him to be in- danger, mounted fwiftly to fuccour 
him j. but the ladders breaking, the king was left 
alone. Alexander, feeing himfelf the butt, againft 
which all the darts were levelled,, both from the 
towers and from the ramparts, was fo rafti, rather 
than valiant, as to leap into the city, which was 
crowded with the enemy, having nothing to expeel, 
but to be either taken or killed before it would be 
pofflble for him to rife, and without once having an 
opportunity, to defend himfelf,. or revenge his 
death.. But,, happily for him, he poifed his body 
in fuch a manner,, that he fell upon his feet -, and 
finding himfelf {landing, fword in hand, he repulfed 
fuch as were neareft him, and even killed the general 
of the enemy who advanced to run him through. 
Happily for him a fecond time, not far from thence 
there flood a great tree,, againft the trunk of which: - 
he leaned, his fhield receiving all the darts that were 
Ihot at him from a diflance j forno one dared to ap- 
proach him, fo great was the dread which the boldnefs 
of the enterprife, and the fire that fhot from his eyes, 
had (truck into the enemy. At lad an Indian let fly 
an arrow three feet long (that being the length of 
their arrows) which piercing.hiscoat of mail, enterec 
confiderable way into his body, a little above the 
right fide. So great a quantity of blood iflfued from 
the wound,, that he dropped his arms, and lay as 

deacL. 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 225 

dead. Behold then this mighty conqueror, this 
vanquifher of" nations, upon the point of lofrng his 
life, not at the head of his armies, but in a corner 
of an obfcure city, into which his rafhnefs had thrown 
him. The Indian who had wounded Alexander, 
ran, in the greateft tranfports of joy, to flrip him -, 
however, Alexander no fooner felt the hand of his 
enemy upon him, but, fired with the thirft of re- 
venge, he recalled his fpirits; and, laying hold of 
the Indian, as he had no arms, he plunged his dag- 
ger into his fide. Some of his chief officers, as 
Pcuceftes, Leonatus, and Timseus, who had got to 
the top of the wall with fome foldiers, came up that 
intrant, and attempting impoffibilities, for the fake 
of laving their fovereign's life, they form themfelves 
as a bulwark round his body, and fuftain the whole 
effort of the enemy. It was then that a mighty bat- 
tle was fought round him In the mean time the 
foldiers, who climbed up with the officers above 
mentioned, having broke the bolts of a little gate 
Handing between two towers, they, by that means, 
let in the Macedonians. Soon after the towa was 
taken, and all the inhabitants were put to the fword, 
without diftinction of age or fex. The firft care they 
took was to carry Alexander into his tent -, being- 
got into it, thtrfurgeons cut off, fo very dexteroufly, 
the wood of the lhaft, which had been (hot into his 
body, that they did not move the fteel point ; and 
after undreiling him, they found, it was a bearded 
arrow ; and that it could not be pulled out, without 
danger unlefs the wound was widened. The king 
bore the operation with incredible refolution, fo thac 
there was no occafion for people to hold him. The 
incifion being made, and the arrow drawn out, fe 
T 3 great. 



vSS 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 



great an efFufion of blood enfued, that the king 
fainted away. Every one thought him dead ; but 
the blood being flopped, he recovered by degrees, 
and knew the perfons about him, all that day, and the 
whole night after, the army continued u-nder arms 
round his tent j and would not ftir from their pods, 
till certain news was brought of his being better, and 
that he began to take a little reft. 

At the end of the (even days he had employed for 
his recovery, before his wound was clofed, as he 
knew that the report of his death increafed among, 
the Barbarians, he caufed two veffels to be joined 
together, ; and had his tent pitched in the middle, in 
fight of every one; purpofely to fhew himfelf to thofe 
who may imagine him dead, and to ruin, by this 
means, all their projects, and the hopes with which 
they nattered themfelves.. He afterwards went down 
the river, going before at fome diflance from the 
reit of the fleet,, for fear leaft the noife of the oars 
fhould k^ep him from fleep, which he wanted very 
much.. When he was a little better and able to go 
out, the foidiers who were upon guard, brought 
him his litter, but he refufed it, and calling for 
his horfe, mounted him. At this fight, all the 
Ihore, and the neighboring forefts echoed with the 
acclamations of the army, who imagined they faw 
him rife, in a manner from the grave. Being come 
near his tent, he alighted, and walked a little way, 
furroundedwith a great number of foidiers, fome of 
whom kiffed his hands, whilft others clafped his knees ; 
others again were contented with only touching his 
clothes, and with feeing him ; but all in general 
burn; into tears r and calling for a thoufand. 

blefiings 



T 
THE LIFE OP ALEXANDER. 227 

blefUngs from heaven, wifhed him long life, and an 
uninterrupted feries of profperity. 

At this inftant deputies came from the Malli, with 
the chiefs of the Oxydracce, being one hundred and 
fixty, befides the governors of the cities and of the 
province, who brought him prefents, and paid him 
homage, pleading in excufe for not having done it 
before, their ftrong love of liberty. They declared, 
that they were ready to receive for their governor, 
whomfoever he pleafed to nominate ; that they 
would pay hrm tribute, and give him hoftages. He 
demanded a thoufand of the chief perform of their 
nations, whom he alfo might make ufe of in war, 
till he had fubje&ed all the country. They put into 
his hands fuch of their countrymen as were hand- 
fomeft and belt fhaped, with five hundred chariots, 
though not demanded by him ; at which the king 
was lb much pleafed, that he gave them back their 
hoftages, and appointed Philip their governor. 

Alexander, who was ©verjoyed at this embafiy, 
and found his iTrength increafe daily, tafted with fo 
much the greater pleafure the fruits both of his vic- 
tory and health, as he had like to have loft them 
forever. His chief courtiers, and mod intimate 
friends, thought it a proper juncture, during this 
calm and ferenity of his mind, for them to unbofom 
themfelves, and expofe their fears to him, which they 
exprefTed in the moil pathetic language, and begged 
of the king to be more careful of fo precious a life, 
,' if not for his own fake, at lead for theirs, and for the 
'felicity of the univerfe. 

Alexander was ftrongly touched with thefe teftimo- 
nies of their affe&ion, and having embraced them 
Severally with inexprefftble tendernefs, he anfwered 

as 



a2S THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

as follows : " I cannot enough thank all prefent, 
who are the flower of my citizens and friends, not 
only for your having this day, preferred my fafety 
to your own, but alfo for the ftrong proofs you 
have given me of your zeal and affection, from 
the beginning of this war, and if any thing is capa- 
ble of making me wifh for a longer life, it is the 
pleafure of enjoying, for years to come, fuch val- 
uable friends as you. But give me leave to ob- 
ferve, that in fome cafes we differ very much in 
opinion. You wifh to enjoy me long; and even, 
if it were pofllble, for ever ; but as to myfelf, I 
compute the length of my exiftence, not by years, 
but by glory. I might have confined my ambi- 
tion within the narrow limits of Macedonia ; and, 
contented with the kingdom my anceftors left me 
have waited, in the midil of pleafures and indo- 
lence, an inglorious old age. I own, that if my 
victories, not my years are computed, I fhall 
feem to have lived long ; but can you imagine, 
that after having made Europe and Afia but one 
empire, after having conquered the two noblefl 
parts of the world, in the tenth year of my reign, 
and the thirtieth of my age, that it will become 
me to flop in the midft of fo exalted a career, 
and difcontinue the purfuit of glory, to which I 
have entirely devoted myfelf; know, that this 
glory enobles all things, and gives a true and folid 
grandeur to whatever appears infignificant ; in 
what place ibever I may fight, 1 fhall fancy myfrlf 
upon the flage of the world, and in prefence of all 
m tkind. I confefs that I have atchieved migh- 
ty things hitherto 5 but the country we are now 
in, reproaches me that a woman has done frill 

" greater. 



T 

THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. v 11<) 



cc 

fc> 

CC 



cc 



greater. It is Semeramis I mean. How many- 
nations did fhe conquer! How many cities were 
built by her ! what magnificent and ftupenduous 
€< works did (lie furnifh ! How Hiamcful is it, that 
I fhould not yet have attained to fo exalted a pitch 
of glory ; do but fecond my ardour and I fhall 
foon furpafs her ; defend me only from fecrer. 
cabals, and domefric traitors, by which mod 
princes lofe their lives. I take the reft upon my- 
felf, and will be anfwerable to you for all the 
<{ events of the war.'' 

Alexander, after having ended his fpeech, dif- 
rrviffed the affembly, and continued encamped for 
feveral days in this place. He afterwards went up- 
on the river, and his army marched after him upon 
the banks. He then caw among the Sabracae a 
powerful nation of Indians. T he fe had levied fixty 
thoufand foot, and fix thoufand horfe, and reinforced 
them with five hundred chariots -, however, the ar- 
rival of Alexander fpreada terror through the whole 
country, and accordingly they lent ambaffadors to 
make their fubmiflion. After having built another 
city, which he alfo called Alexandria, he arrived in 
the territories of Muficanus, a very rich prince, and 
afterwards in thofe of the king of Samus. At the 
fiege of one of this kings towns, Ptolemy was dan- 
| geroufly wounded - 9 for the Indians had poifoned all 
-their arrows and fvvords fo that the wounds they 
made were mortal. Alexander, who had the higheft 
Jove and efteem for Ptolemy, was very much afrTi&ed, 
and caufed him to be brought in his bed near him, 
that he hirrjfelf might have an eye to his cure. He 
was his near relation, and according to fome writers, 
atural fan of Philip. Ptolemy was one of the 
U braveft 



220 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* 






brayed in the army, was highly efteemed in \vnr 9 
and had greater talents for peace. He was averfe 
to luxury, vaftly generous, eafy of accefs, and did 
not imitate the pomp, which wealth and profperity had 
made the reft of the Macedonian noblemen affume .; 
in a word it is hard to fay, whether he were more 
efteemed by his fbvereign, or his country. We 
are told, there appealed to him in a dream a dragon, 
which prefented him an herb, as an effectual remedy ; 
and that upon his waking, he ordered it to be fen t 
for ; when laying it upon the wound, it was healed 
in a few days, to the uniyerfal joy of the army. 

The king continuing his voyage, arrived at Patala, 
about the beginning of the dog-days, that is, about 
the end of July ; lo that the fleet was nine months 
at leaft from its letting out, till its arrival at that 
place. There the river Indus divides into two large 
arms, and forms an Ifland, Alexander caufed a citadel 
to be built in Patala, as alio an harbor and an 2rfenal 
jol the fhipping. This being done, he embarked on 
: ~ right arm of the river, in order to fail as far as 
the ocean, expofing in this manner ib many brave 
men to the mercy of a river with which they are 
wholly unacquainted. The only confolation they 
h^d in this rafh enterprize, was Alexander's uninter- 
rupted fuccefs. When he had failed twenty leagues, 
the pilots told him that they began to perceive the 
iea-air, afcd therefore believed that the ocean could 
not be far off. Upon this news, leaping for joy, 
he befought the Pallors to row with all their ftrength, 
and told the foldiers, S( That they at Jafb were come 
cc to the end of their toils, which they had fo earned-. 
ff ly defj red ; that now nothing could oppofe their 
" valour, nor add to their glory - s that without fight- 

" ing 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 2jl 

" ijig any more, or fpilling of Blood, they were 
" mailers of the univerfe, that their exploits had 
u the fame boundaries with nature ; and that they 
c< would be fpectators of things, known only to the 
" immortal gods." 

Being come nearer the fea, a circurrvftance new 
and unheard of by the Macedonians threw them into 
the utmoft confuiion, and expofed the fleet to the 
greatefl danger j and this Yv>as the ebbing and flowing 
of the ocean. Forming a judgment of this- vail fea,, 
from that e^f the Mediteranean, the only one they 
knew, an^ whole eb-birrgs areimperceptable, they were 
very much ailonilhed when they faw it rife to a great 
height, and overflow the country ; and confidered it ,is 
a mark of anger of the gods, to puniin their rafhnefs. 
They were no lel\ furprized and terrified, fome hours 
after, when they faw zht ebbing of the fea, which 
now withdrew as it had before advanced, leaving 
thofe lands uncovered, it had fo lately overflow*.., .. 
The fleet was very much fhattered, and the mips be- 
ing now upon dry land, the fields were covered- 
with clothes, with broken oars and planks, as after 
a great (lorm. 

At lad Alexander/afar having failed full ninemomhs^ 
in' rivers, arrived at the ocean, where gazing with> 
the utmoil eagernefs upon that van: expanfe of waters, 
he imagined that this fight, worthy {o great a con- 
queror as himfelf, greatly overpaid all the toils he* 
had undergone, and the many thou land men he had 

ro arrive at it. He then offered facririces to 
the gods, and particularly to Neptune j threwin.ro 
the fea thr. cuds he had flaughtered, and a great- 

btrijf golden cups, and befbughc the gods not 
to lurrcr any mortal after him, to exceed the bounds- 

Of: 



J2 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 



Of 



IMS c 



his expedition. Finding that he had extended 



- conquers :o the extremities of the earth on that 
fide, he imagined he had completed his mighty de- 
ftgn - y and, highly delighted -with himfelf, he re- 
lumed to rejoin the red: of his fleet and army, which 
waned (or him at Patala, and in the neighbourhood 
of it. 

Sect. XVI. Alexander, in his march through de farts, 
is grievoufly diftreffed hy 'famine. He arrives at 
Pafagardae, where Cyrus's menument flood* Qrji • 
nes, a powerful lord, is put to death by the clandef- 
tine intrigues of Bagoas the ennuch. Calaus the 
Indian afcends a funeral pile, where he puts himfelf 
to death, Alexander marries Statira, the daughter 
of Darius. Harp a las arrives at Athens •> Dewofl- 
henes is banijhed* Ihe Macedonian fcldiers make 
an hfurreclhn, which Alexander appeafes. He re- 
calls Antipater from Macedcnia, and fends Craterus 
in his room. The kings fcrrovj for the. death of 
llepbaefticn. 

Alexander being returned to Patala, prepared 
all things for the departure of his fleet. He ap- 
pointed Nearchus admiral of it, who was the enly 
officer that had the courage to accept of this com- 
million, which was a very hazardous one, becaufe 
they were to fail over a fea entirely unknown to 
them. The king was very much p leafed at his ac- 
cepting of it j and, after testifying his acknowledge- 
ment upon that account in the moil obliging 

to take the I 



\ 



vae uife or ai/exa.-;^ 223 

fljips in the fleet, and to go and found the fea-coafi 
extending from the Indus to the bottom of the Per* 
iian guiph : and, after having given thefe orders, he 
let cut by. lard tor Babylon. 

Nearchus did nor leave the Indus at the fame time 
with Alexander. It was not yet the feafon proper 
for failing. It was fummer, when the fouthern lea - 
winds rife ; and the feafon of the north winds, which- 
in winter, was not yet come. He therefore did 
not fecfail till about the end of September, which 
was too foon -, and accordingly he was incommodea 
by winds fome days after his departure, and obliged ; 
to fheltcr himieiffor twenty-four days. 

We are obliged for thefe particulars to Arriany 
who has given us an exact journal of this voyage, 
copied from that of Nearchus the admiral. 

Alexander, .after having left Patala, marched thro' 
the country of the Oritce, th& capital whereof was 
called Ora or Rhambacis. Here he* was in fuch want 
of provifion, that he loft a great number of foldiers, 
and brought back from I ndia fcarce the fourth par; 
of his army,- which had -confided of an hundred and 
twenty thoufand foot, and fifteen thousand horfe. 
nefs, had iwept them away in multitudes 1 -; buu 
famine made a (bll greater havock among the- troops 
in this barren coumry> .which was- neither ploughed 
nor fowed ; its inhabitants being favages., who fa 
very hard, and led a molt uncomfortable life. After 
they had eaten all the palm- tree roots that could bq 
met with; they were obliged to feed upon the beaib 
of burthen* and • next' upon their war-horfes ; and 
when they had no beafts left to carry their baggage, 

■ ; were forced to bum thofe rid; fpoils, for Vi\t? 
of \\h;ch the Macedonians had ran to the e*-- 
U 2 tremiiies^ 



2^4 T" E LIFE 0F ALEXANDER 1 . 

tremities of the earth. The plague, a difeafe which 
generally accompanies famine, completed the calam- 
ity of the foldiers, and deftroyed great numbers of 
them. 

After marching threeicore days, Alexander arrived" 
on the confines of Gadrofia, where he found plenty of 
ail things* for the foil was not only very fruitful, but 
the kings and great men, who lay neareft that coun- 
try, fent him all kinds of provisions. He continued 
fome time here, in order to refrefh his army. The 
governois of India having fent, by his order, a great 
number of horfes, and all kinds of beafts of burthen* 
from the feveral kingdoms fu eject to him, he re- 
mounted his troops j equipped thofe who had loft 
every thing -, and foon after presented all of them 
with arms, as beautiful as thofe they had before, 
which it was very eaiy for him to do 5 as they were upon 
the confines of Perfia, at that time in peace, and in a 
very do unfiling condition. 

He arrived in Car mania-, now'called Kerman, and 
went through it, not with the air and equipage of a 
warrior and a conqueror, but in a kind of mafqu.T- 
adV, and bacchanalian fefhvity, committing the meft 
jiotous aud extravagant actions^ He was drawn by- 
eight lories, himfeif being feated on a magnificent 
charior, above which a fcafTold was railed, in the 
form of a fquare ftage, where he pafied the days and 
nights in feafts acid caroufing. This chariot was- 
preceded and followed by an infinite number of 
others, feme of which in the fhape of tents,, were co- 
vered with rich carpets, and purple coverlets ; 
and others, In aped like cradles, were overfhadowed 
with branches of freest On the (ides of the road*, 
and at the doors of houfes, a great number of <:.-&* 

re: 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, I^S 

ready broached were placed, whence the foldiers 
drew wine in large ftaggons, cups, and goblets, pre- 
pared for that purpofe* 

The whole country echoed with the found of in- 
ftruments, and the howling of bacchanals, who, with 
their hair dimevelled, and like fo many frantick 
creatures, ran up and down, abandoning themfelvesf 
in every kind of licentioufnefs. All this he did in 
imitation of the triumph of Bacchus, who, as we are 
told, eroded all A (\ a in this equipage, after he had 
conquered India-. This riotous, diflolute march 
kited [even days,, during all which time the army was 
never fober. It was very happy, faysQuintius Cur- 
tius, for them, that the conquered nations did not 
think of attacking them in this condition j for a 
thoufand refolute men, well armed, might with great 
eafe have defeated theie conquerors of the world, 
whilll thus plunged in wine and exctfs. 

Nearchus ftill keeping along the fea-coafts, from 
the mouth of the Indus, came at lad into the Persian 
gulph, and arrived at the ifland of H-rmufia, now 
called Ormus. He there was informed, that Alex- 
ander was not above five days journey from him. 
Having left the fleet in a fecure place, he went t-a 
meet Alexander, accompanied only by four perfons. 
The king was very anxious about his fleet. When 
news was brought him that Nearchus was arrived 
almoft alone, he imagined that it had been entirely 
deftroyed, and that Nearchus Had been fo very happy 
as to eieape from the general defeat. His arrival 
confirmed him ft ill more in his opinion, when he be- 
held a company of pale, lean creatures, whole coun- 
tenances were ib much changed, that it was fcarce 
poilible. to fec*w them again, Taking Nearchus 

afide. 



23.6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER'. 

afide, he told him, that he was overjoyed at his rec- 
tum, but at. the fame time was inconfolable for the 
lofs of his fleet. Your fleet, royal fir, cried he im- 
mediately, thanks to, the gods, is not loft. Upon 
which he related the condition in which he left it. 
Alexander could not refrain from tears, and eonfeff- 
ed, that this happy news^ gave him greater pleak 
than the conqueft of all Afia; lie heard, with l 
common delight,, the account Nearchus gave of- 
voyage, and the difcoveries he had made ; and bid 
him return back, and go quite up th^ Euphrates as 
far as Babylon, purfuant to the flrft orders he had 
given him. 

In Carmania, many complaints were made to- 
Alexander, concerning governors and other officers, 
who had grievoufly oppreifed the people of various 
provinces during his abfence : for, fully perfuaded 
he would never return, they had exercifed every fpe- 
cies of rapine, tyranny, cruelty and oppreflion. But 
Alexander ftrongly arretted with their grievances, 
put to death. as many as were found g.uilty of mal- 
adminiftration, and with them fix hundred fcldiers, 
who had been the inftrumeins of their exactions, and 
other crimes. He afterwards treated with the lame 
ft verity, all fuch of his officers as were convicted of 
the like guilty fo that his government was beloved 
by all the conquered nations. 

The great pleafure Alexander took, in the 
coud: which Nearchus gave him of his fuc 
voy . lade that prince have a great inclination to 

c.o upon the ocean. He propofed no lefs than to 
fail . the. Perfian gplph, rou 
and to return into the. Mediterranean l>y\ 
of Gibralter, called at that time Hercules's : 

a v : 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. Otf 

a voyage which had been feveral times attempted, 
and once performed, by order of a king of Egypt, 
called Nchao. It was afterwards his defign, when 
he Qiould have humbled the pride of Carthage, agai nil 
which he was greatly exafperate, to crofs into Spain, 
called by the Greeks Iberia; he next was to go over 
the Alps, and coaft along Italy, where he would have 
but a fhort pafTage into Epirus, and from thence into 
Macedonia. For this purpofe, he fen t orders to the 
viceroys of Mefopotamia, and Syria, to build in 
feveral parts of the Euphrates, and particularly at 
Thafpacus, mips fufficient for that enterprife j and 
lie caufed to be felled, on mount Libanus, a great 
number of trees, which were to be carried into the 
above mentioned city. But this project, as well as 
a great many others which he meditated, were ail 
defeated by his early death. 

Continuing his march, he went to PafTagardse, a 
city of Perfia. Grfmes^was governor of the country, 
and the greateft nobleman in it, being defcended 
from Cyrus. He had done Alex nder a figmd piece 
of fervice. Tht perfon, who governed the provin- 
ces during Alexanders expedition into India, hap- 
pened to die-; when Qrf*es obferving, that, for 
want of a governor, all things were running tocon^ 
fufion, took the admimitratien upon himfelf, com- 
pofed matters very happily, and prefer ved them in 
t\\t utrmif. tranquility, till Alexander's arrival. He 
went to meet him, with prefents of all kinds, for 
himitif as well as his officers. ,Thefe confided of a 
great number of fine managed horfes, chariots, jew- 
els, gold vaflts of a prodigious weight, purple robes^ 
and four thoufand talents of filvcr. However this 
generous magnificence proved fatal to him ; for h^ 

U 3 pre fen ted 



238 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

prefented fuch gifts to the principal grandc 
court, as infinitely exceeded their expectations, but 
gave nothing to the eunuch Bagoas, the king's fa- 
vourite j and this not through forgetful nefs, but 
out of contempt. Some perfons telling him how 
much the king loved Bagoas, he anfwered, if I honor 
the king's friends, but not an infamous eunuch." 
Thefe words being told Bagoas, he employed all his 
credit to ruin a prince descended from the nob'] eft 
blood in the eaft, and irreproachable in his conduct. 
He even bribed fome of Orfines attendants, giving 
them inductions how to impeach him at a proper 
fcafon - } and in the mean tune, whenever he was 
alone with the king, he filled his mind with fulpi- 
cions and diftruft, by perpetually cha'rgii im either 
with exactions or treafon, 

Bagoas after having taken his meafures at dfftance, 
at Jail gave birch to his dark cIt ;.:]ev, 

having caused the monument of C tied, 

in order to perform funeral honours t< of 

that great prince, found nothing in 'i 

rotten lhield, two Scythian oows, and a j 

whereas he hoped to find, it full of gold a er, 

as the Perfians had sported. The king lakl a 
golden crown on his urn, and covered it with his 
cloak ; vaftly furprifed that fo powerful and renown- 
ed a prince had not been buried with greater pomp 
than a private man. Bagoas thinking this a proper 
time for himto fpeak, " Are we to wonder, (fays he) 
" to find the tombs of kings fo empty fince the 
" houfes of governors of provinces are filled with 
i( the gold of whicli they have deprived them ? I, 
<{ indeed, had never feen this monument ; but I 
•• ka-ve heard Darius fay, that immenfe t re a Cures 

wer 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 239 

* c were buried in it. Hence flowed the unbounded 
* f liberality and profusion of Orfines, who, by be- 
€t flowing what he could not keep, without ruining 
l( himfelf, thought to make a merit of this in your 
" fight." This charge was without the lead founda- 
tion ; and yet the Magi, who guarded the fepukhre, 
were put to the torture, but all to no purpofe ; and 
nothing was difcovered relating to the pretended 
theft. Their filence, on this occafion, ought natu- 
rally to have cleared Orfines ; but the artful, insinu- 
ating difcotjffes of Bagoas, had made a deep impref- 
fion on Alexander's mind, and 1dv that means given 
calumny an eafy accefs to it. The accufers, whom 
Bagoas had fuborned, having made choice of a fa- 
vourable moment, came and impeached Orfines, 
and charged him with the commiffion of feveral odi- 
ous crimes, and among the reft, with dealing the 
treafures of the monument. At this charge, the 
matter appeared no longer doubtful, and the indi- 
cations were thought fuflicient; fo that this prince 
was loaded with chains, before he fo much as fuf- 
pected that any accufation had been brought againfi: 
him ; and was put to death, without being fo much 
as heard, or confronted with his accufers. 

From ParTagardie, Alexander came to Perfepolis ; 
tnd, furveying the remains of the conflagration, was 
exafperated againft himfelf, for his folly in fetting 
t on fire. From hence he advanced towards Sufa. 
Vearchus, in compliance with his orders, had begun 
o fail up the Euphrates with his fleet ; but, upon 
tdvice that Alexander was going to Sufa, he came 
lown again to the mouth of thePafi-Tigris, and fail- 
ed up this ri^#P to a bridge, where Alexander was 

pafs it. Then the naval and land armies joined. 

The 



t 



24O THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

The king offered to his gods facriflces, by way of 
thanks for his happy return, and great rejoicings 
were made in the camp. Nearchus received the ho- 
nours due to him, for the care he had taken of the 
fleet ; and for having conducted it fo far fafe, through 
numberlefs dangers. 

Alexander found in Sufa all the captives of qua- 
lity he had left there. He married Statira, Darius's 
oldeft daughter, tind gave the youngeft to his dear 
Hephaeftion. And in order that, by making thefe 
marriages more common, his own might not be 
cenfured, he perfuaded the greateft noblemen in his 
court, and his principal favourites, to imitate him. 
Accordingly they chofe from among the nobleft fa- 
milies of Perfia, about fourfcore young maidens, 
whom they married.- His defign was, by thefe alli- 
ances, to cement fo ftrongly the union of the two na- 
tions, that they mould henceforward form but one, 
under his empire. The nuptials were foiemnized 
after the Periian manner. He likewife feafted all 
the reit of the Macedonians who had married before 
in that country. It is reiated that there were nine 
thoufand guefts at this feaft, and that he gave each 
of them a golden cup for the libations. 

Notfatisfied with this bounty, he would alfo pay 
>his foldiers' debts. But rinding that feveral would 
not declare the fums they owed, for fear of its being 
an artifice meanly todifcover thofc among them who 
were too lavilh of their money, he appointed in his 
camp, offices, where all debts were paid-, without 
afking the name of either the debtor or creditor. 
His liberality was very great on this occafion, and 
gave prodigious fatisfaclion ; we arafltold that it 
amounted, to near ten thoufand talents; but his indul- 
gence, 



T1IE LIFE OF ALEXANDrfe. 

I 

gencc, in permitting every perkn to conceal his 
name, was a (till more agreeable circumftancc. H* 
reproached the foldiers for their Teeming to fufj 
•the truth of his promifc, and faid to them, <c That 
if a king ought never to forfeit his word with his 
<c fu bjects i nor his fubje<fts iufpecl that he could 
tc be guilty of fo fhameful a prevarication." 

And now there arrived at Sufa, thirty thoufand 
young men, mod of the fame age, and called Epi- 
gones, that is fuccefibrs ; as coming to relieve the 
o-id foldiers in their duty and long fatigues. Such 
only had been made choice of, as were the ftrongefc 
and bed fbaped in all Perfia ; and had been fent to 
the governors of fuch cities as were either founded. 
or conquered by Alexander. Thefe had inftructed 
them inmiiicary difcipline, and in all things relating 
to the fcience of war. They were all very neatly 
d-refTed, and armed after the Macedonian manner* 
Thefe came and encamped before the city, where, 
drawing up in battle-array, they were reviewed ; 
and performed their exercife before the king, who 
was extremely well pleafed, and very bountiful 
to them afterwards, at which the Macedonians took 
great umbrage. And indeed Alexander obferving 
thefe were harrafFed and tired out with the length of 
the war, and often vented murmurs and complaints 
in the aifemblies ; he for that reafon was defirous of 
training up thefe new forces, purpofely to check the 
licentioufoefs of the veterans. It is dangeroir to 
difeuft^^fckplcy^kjn, and to favour foreigners jo 
op?nly^i V 

In the mean time Harpalus, whom Alexander, 
during his cxUfction into India, had appointed go- 
vernor of H(pflbn, quitted his iervice. Flattering 
^ m W himfelf 

I 



242 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

himfelf with hopes that this prince would never re- 
turn from his wars in that country, he had given a 
3oofe to all kinds of licentioufnefs, and confumed in 
his infamous revels, part of the wealth with which he 
had been entrufted. As foon as he was informed 
that Alexander in his return from India, punifhed 
very feverely fuch of his lieutenants as had abufcd 
their power, he meditated how he might beft fecure 
himfelf. ; and for this purpofe amaffed five thoufand 
talents, that is, about hven hundred and fifty thou- 
fand pounds ; afiem bled fix thoufand fo,ldiers, with- 
drew into Attica, and landed at Athens. 

Immediately all fuch orators as made a trade o£ 
eloquence, ran to him in crowds, all ready to be cor- 
rupted by bribes, as they were before by hopes of 
them. Harpalus did, not fail to diftribute a fmall 
part of his wealth among thefe, orators, to win them 
over to his intereft, but he offered Pho.cion {even 
jvdndred talents, and even put his perfon under his 
prote.clion, well knowing the prodigious authority 
he had over the people. 

The fame of his probity, and particularly of his 
difintereflednefs, had gained him this credit. Phi- 
Jip's deputies had offered him great fums of money 
in that prince's name, and intreating him to accept 
them, if not for himfeif, .at, lead for his children, 
who were fo poor, that it, would be impoffible for 
them to fupport the. glory of his name : " If they 
<c refemble me, replied Phocion, the littfoipot of 
<f ground, with the prudence of wiicirl b^Lhither- 
<c to lived, and which has raifed rn%tb tl^JKy you 
" mention, will be fufficient to mairffeifc them ; if 
cc it will not, I do not irttend to le A fcem wealth, 
<( merely to foment and heighten mu^." Alex- 
ander 
I 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 24T 

ander having likewife fent him an hundred talenrs, 
Phocioh afked thofe who brought them, upon What 
defign Alexander fcnt him fo great a fum, and did 

•not remit any to the reft of the Athenians ? It is re- 

1 plied they, becaufe Alexander looks upon you as the 
only juft and virtuous man. SaysPhocion, let him luf- 
fer me ftill to enjoy that character, and be really what 
1 am taken for. 

The reader will fuppofe, that he did not give a 
more favourable reception to the perfons fent 
by Harpalus. And indeed he fpoke to them in- 
very harfh terms, declaring, that he mould imme- 
diately take fuch meafures as would be difagreeable 
to the peribn on whofe errand they came, in cafe 

'he did not leave off bribing the city ; the people 
alfo, were highly exafperated againlt Harpalus, and 
expelled him from the city.- 

Upon the firft report of Harpalus's flying to 
Athens, Alexander, fully determined to go in per- 
fon to punifh Harpalus and the Athenians, had 
commanded a fleet ro be equipped. But after news 
was brought that the people in their aflembly had 
ordered him to depart their city, he laid afide all 
thoughts of returning into Europe. 

Alexander, having dill a curiofity to fee the ocean, 

j came down from -Sufa, upon the river Eulaeus \ 
after having coafted the Perfian gulph to the mouth 
oftheTygris, he went up that river towards the 
larmy, which wasjptcamped on the banks of it, near 
the city of Opis, upckr the command bfHepHaeft 

Upa^|^BrrrvaFr^ere, he published a declaration 
in thecan(jMpy which all the Macedonians, 'who, by 
reafon «f their age, wounds,- or any other infirm 
Wercunabfcto fupport-any longer the fatigues of 
•• the- 



244- THS LI ' FE 0F ALEXANDER. 

the fervice, were permitted to return into Greece ; 
declaring, that his defign was to difcharge them j 
to be bountiful to them, and fend them back to their 
native, country in a fare and honourable manner 
His intention was, in making this declaration, to 
oblige, incT at the fame time give them theftrongel 
proof how greatly they were in his efteem. How- 
ever, the very contrary happened : for being already 
diigufled. upon fome other accounts, efpecially b f 
the vrfible preference which Alexander gave to for 
eigners, they imagined, that his refokitio'n was to 
make Afia the feat of his empire, and to difengag 
himfelf from the Macedonians^ and that the only 
motive of his doing this, was, that they might make 
room for the new troops he had levied in the con- 
quered countries-. This alone was fufficient to ex- 
aiperate them to fury. Upon which, without ob- 
serving the, lead order or difcipline, or regarding the 
remonitrances of their officers, they went to the king 
with an air of infolence which they had never aflum- 
ied till then, and with feditious cries unanimoufly 
demanded to be difefrarged, faying further, that 
iince he defpiied the fofdie-rs who had gained him all 
his victories, he and his father Ammon, might carry 
on the waragainft whomfoever, and in what mannei 
they pleafed -, but as for themfelves, they were fully 
determined not to ferve him any longer. 

The king, no way furprifed, and without once 
hefitating, jumps from his tribunal -, caufes the prin- 
cipal rniittneerSj whom he himjelf pointed out to hi: 
guards, to be immediately feiz^Mind aiders thirteen! 
to be punifhed. This bold ana viajBgus aclion, ( i 
which thunderflruck the MacedoniaT^fuppreiTed 
their courage in an inftant : quite amazg^i and con j 

founded, 



ra*E life er alexan'Dl, 

founded, and fcarce daring to look at one another,, 

they flood wi;h downcaft eyes, and were fo difpirited, 

and trembled fo prodigioufly, that they were unable 

either to fpeak or even to think. Seeing them in this 

: condition, he re-afcended his tribunal, where, after 

■ repeating to them, with a fe^vere countenance, and a 

menacing tone of voice, the numerous favours 

which Philip his father had bellowed upon then;, 

\ and all" the marks of kindnefs and friendlhip by 

, w T hich he himfelf had diftinguilhed them, he conclu- 

i ded with theie words : " You all defire a difcharge ; 

" I grant it you. Go now, and publifri to the 

%i whole world, that you have left your prince to 

t: the mercy of the nations he had conquered, who 

were more affectionate- to him thin you." ' After 

i'peaking this, he returned fuddenly into his tent ; 

calhiers his old guard ; appoints another in its place, 

ali compofed of Perfian foldiers ; fhuts himfelf u«) 

ne days, and would not fee any perfon all the 

ne. 

Had the Macedonians been fchtenced todre,it could 
j not have furpriied them more than when. news was 
brought them, that the king had confided the guard of ; 
his perfon to thePerfians.^ They could fupprefs their 
. grief no longer, fo that nothing was heard but cries, 
groans, anddamentations^ Soon after* they all run 
together to the king's tent, threw down their arm r , 
confefled their guilt ; acknowledging their fault 
with tears and fighs ; declare that the lofs of life v, 
not be fo grievous as the- lofs of honour ; and pro- 
teft that they will not leave the place till the k 
has. pardoned them. At laft Alexander could n< 
longer refill the tender proofs they gave of their for-- 
W- 2, rtw 



240 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

row and repentance ; fo that when he himfelf, at his 
coming out of his tent, faw them in this dejectetj 
condition, he could not refrain from tears ; and af- 
ter fome gentle reproaches, which were foftened by 
an air of humanity and kindnefs, he declared fo loud 
as to be heard by them all, that he reftored them to 
his friend/hip. This was reftoring them to life, as 
was manifeft from their fhouts. 

He afterwards difcharged fuch Macedonians as 
were no longer able to carry arms, and fent thern 
back to their native country with rich prefents. He 
commanded,, that at the exhibiting of the public 
games, they (hould be allowed the chief places in the 
theatre, and there fit with crowns on their heads ; 
and gave orders, that the children of thole who had 
loft their lives in his fervice, fhould receive, during 
their minority, the fame pay which had been given 
their fathers. 

Alexander appointed Craterus commander of 
thefe f)ldiers, to* whom he gave the government of 
Macedonia, Theflala, and Thrace, which Antipater 
had enjoyed -, and the latter was commanded to 
bring the recruits inftead of Craterus. The king . 
had long fince been quite tired with the complaints 
of his mother and Antipater, who could not agree 
She charged Antipater of afpiring to fovereign 
power, and the latter complained of her violent and 
untraceable difpofuion ; and had often declared in 
his letters, that ih.e did not behave in a manner fuita-- 
ble to her dignity. It was with fome reluctance, 
Antipater refigned his government* 

(b) From Opis, Alexander arrived at.Ecbatana,, 
,n. Media, where, after having difpatched the moil 

urgent 

(b) A. M, 3680, Anu J, C. 3Z5< 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 247 

urgent affairs of the kingdom, he again folemnized 
games and feftivals : there had come to him from 
Greece, three thoufand dancers, makers of machine- 
ry, and other perfons (killed in diverfions of this 
kind. It happened during the .celebration of thefe 
feftivals, that Hepaeftion died of a difeafe which he 
brought upon himfelf. Alexander abandoning him* 
felfto immoderate drinking, his whole court fol- 
lowed his example, and fometimes fpent whole days 
and nights in thefe exceiles. In one of them He- 
piweftion loft his life.. 

In order to remove, by bufinefs and employment, 
the melancholy ideas which the death of his favourite 
perpetually awakened in his mind, Alexander march- 
ed his army againft the CofTsei, a warlike nation in- 
habiting the Mountains of Media, whom not one of 
ithe Perfian monarchs had ever been able to con- 
quer. However, the king reduced them in forty 
days, afterwards paffed the Tigris, and marched to 
wards JSabyloa. 

S*ct. . XVIL. Alexander enter* Babylon, contrary 
to the Jinifter pr editions of the Magi and Sooth fay - 
ers. He there forms the plan of fever al voyages 
and conquefts. Hefets about repairing the breaches 
made in the piers of the Tygris and 'Euphrates > and 
rebuilding the temple of Balus* . He abandons him- 
Jelf to immoderate drinking^ which brings him to his 
end. The univ erf al grief f pre ad over the whole 

I empire upon that account. Syfigambis is not able to 
Jurvive him. Preparations are made to convey 
Alexander's corps to. the t$Wple of Jupiter- Am-mon^ 
in Ubya* Alexander 






2±& THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* 

Alexander being arrived within a league and 
a half of Babylon, the Chaldeans who pretend to 
know futurity by the ftars, deputed to him fome of 
their old men, to acquaint him, that he would be in 
danger of his life, in cafe he entered that city j and 
were very urgent- with him to go on farther. The 
Babylonifli aftrologers were held in fuch great repu* 
tation, that this advice made a prodigious impref- 
fion on his mind, and filled him with confufion and 
dread. Upon this, after fending feveral of the gran - 
dees of his court to Babylon, he himfelf went ano- 
ther way j and having marched about ten leagues,, 
he (topped for fome time in the place where he h I 
encamped his army. The Greek philofophers, be- 
ing told the foundation of his fear and fcruples,wa 
ed upon him.; when letting, in the ftrongeft light, , 
the principles of Ajiaxagoras> whole tenets they fol- 
lowed, they demonftrated to him, in the llrongeft 
manner, the vanity of aftrology ; and made him 
have fo great a contempt for divination in general, 
and for that of the Chaldeans in particular, that he 
immediately marched towards- Babylon with his> 
whole army. He knew that there were arrived in. 
that city, ambafladors from all parts of the world, 
who waited for his coming j the whole earth echoing . 
fo much with the terror of his name, that the feveral i 
nations came, with inexprefiible ardour to pay hom- 
age to Alexander as to him who was to be their So- 
vereign. This view, which agreeably foothed the 
ftrongeft of all his pafTions, contributed very much 
to ftifk every other reflection, and to make him care- 
lefs of all advice that might be given him - y fo that 
he let forward with all pollible diiigenee towards ti I 
great city, there to hold the daces- general, in a man-- 



ner, of the world. After making a moft magn; 

cent entry, he gave audience to ail the ambafludors, 

with the grandeur and dignity fuitablc to a great 

monarch, and, at the fame time, with the affability 

and politenefs of a prince, who us of winning 

affe:tion of all. He lc of Epidaurus 

eat prefents for the dei s over 

.-il as over health, bus re| i them 

le. iEfculipiu^, fays he, !. . 

but very lirtle indulgence, in :ie 

of a friend, who was as dear to me as myfelf. In 

private, he difcovered agreat friend (hip for iuch oftht 

deputies of Greece, as came congratulate him on I 

victories, and his happy return : reftored them 

all the ftatues, and other curiolities, which Xerxes 

had carried out of Greece, rre found in Sufa, 

Babylon, T da, and places. We *re 

told, that among thele were the ftatues of Harmo- 

drius and Ariftogiton, and that they were brought 

back to Athens. 

The Am ballad ors from G having offered 

him, in the nameo; the freedom of it, he 

i at an offer which feen. riwor- 

of one who had a: :;*d a pitch of 

->deur and power. However, when AJexand 
nth had granted this privilege to 
Her rdv, he accepted it with joy ; and piqued 

him(e!f upon treading in his (leps, and re fern Wing 
all things. Bu: Seneca, in what did 

^tick young i whom fuccefsful tim- 

\ affed for virtue, refemble Hecules ? The lac- 
free from all feir-interefted views, travelled 

co ferve the feveral na- 
ed, and to purge the earth of fuch rq v 
1 t*r 



2TJ6 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

• bers as infefted it ; whereas Alexander, who is juftly 
entitled the plunderer of nation, made his glory to 
confift in carrying defolation into all places, and in 
rendering himielf the terror of mankind. 

At the fame time he wrote a letter, which was to 
have been read publickly in the afiembly of the 
Olympick games, whereby the feveral cities df 
Greece were commanded to permit all exiles to re- 
turn into their native country, thofe excepted who 
had committed facrilege, or any other crime deferv- 
ing death ; and ordered Antipater to employ an 
armed force againft fuch cities as fhould refufe to 
obey. This letter was read in the 'affemblv. But 
i&s for the Athenians and Etolians, they did not think 
•themfelves obliged to put orders in execution, which 
ieemed to interfere with their liberty. 

During almoft a year which Alexander continued 
in Babylon, he revolved a great number of projects 
in his mind ; fuch as to go round Africa by fea -, to 
make a complete difcovery of all the nations lyisig 
round the Cafpian fea, and inhabiting its coafts -, to 
conquer Arabia -, to make war with Carthage, and 
to fubdue the reft of Europe. The very thoughts 
of fitting (till fatigued him, and the great vivacity of 
his imagination and ambition would never fuffcr 
him to be at reft ; nay, could he have conquered 
the whole world, he would have fought a new one, 
to fatiatethe avidity of his defires. 

The embellifhing of Babylon alfo employed his 
thoughts very much. Finding it furpafled in extent, 
in conveniency, nnd in whatever can be wifhed, cither 
for the neceflities or pleafures of life, all the other 
cities of the Eaft, he refolved to make it the fear: of 

is empire; and for that purpofe, was defirous o£ 

adding 



THE MFE OF ALEXANDER. 



251 



adding to it all the conveniences and ornaments pof- 
fible. 

■This city, as well as the country round about it, 
d fuffered prodigioufly by the breaking of the 
bank or dike of the Euphrates, at the head of the 

tal called Pallacopa. The river running out of 
ufual channel by this breach, overflowed the 
whole country ; and forcing its way perpetually, 
the breach grew at laft fo wide, that it would have 
cod almoft as much to repair the bank, as theraifing 
©fit had done at firft. So little water was left in the 
channel of the Euphrates about Babylon, that 
there was fcarce depth enough for fmall boats, which 
confequently was of great prejudice to the city. 

Alexander undertook to remedy this, for which 
purpofehe embarked upon the Euphrates, in order 
to take a view of the place. It was on this occafion 
that he reproached, in a ludicrous, infulting tone of 
voice, the Magi and Chaldeans who accompanied 
him, for the vanity of their predictions, fince, not- 
withstanding the ill omens thev had endeavoured to 
terrify him with (as if he had been a credulous wo- 
man) he however had entered Babylon, and was re- 
turned from it very fafe. Attentive to nothing buc 
the fubjed of his voyage, he went and reviewed the 
breach, and gave the proper orders for repairing and- 
reftoringjt to its former condition. 

This work, after having been carried on the length 
of a league and an half, was flopped by difficulties 
owing to the nature of. the foil ; and the death o£ 
this prince, which happened foon after, put an end 
|to this project. 

Another defign which Alexander meditated, and 
had mod at heart, was repairing the temple of Belus. 

Xerxes 



2$2 THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER* 

Xerxes had demolished it in his return from Greece, 
and it had lain in ruins ever fince. Now Alexander 
was refolded, not only to rebuild it, but even rx> 
raife a much more magnificent temple. According- 
ly, he had caufed all' the rubbifh to be removed -, 
and rinding that the Magi, to whofe care he had left 
this, went on but flowly, he made his foldiers work. 
Notwithstanding ten thoufand of them were daily 
employed at it, for two months fucceffively, the work 
was not finifhed at the death of this prince, fo prodi- 
gious were its ruins. When it came to the,, turn of 
the Jewifh foldiers, who were in his army, to work as 
the reft had done, they could not be prevailed upon 
to give their affiftance ; but excufed themfelves 
with faying, that as idolatry was forbid by the tenets 
of their religion, they therefore were not allowed to 
a/lift in building of a temple, defigned for idolatrous 
worfhip ; and accordingly not one lent a hand on 
this occafion. They were punifhed for difobedience, 
but all to no purpofe ; fo that, at laft, Alexander 
admiring their pet feverance, difchargedj and fent 
them home. 

A though Alexander employed himfelf in the 
works above mentioned, during his (lay in Babylon, 
he fpent the greateft part of his time in fuch pleafures 
as that city afforded -, and was daily folemnizing 
new feflivals, and perpetually at new banquets, in 
which he quaffed with his ufual intemperance. After 
having fpent a whole night in caroufing, a fecond 
was propofed to him. He met accordingly, and 
there were twenty guefts at table. He drank to the 
health of every perfon in company, and then pledged 
them feverally. After this, calling for Hercules's 
cup, which held fix bottles, it was rilled, when he 

poured 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 2C7 



ed it all down, drinking to a Macedonia 
compiny, Proteas by name*, and al 
pledged him again, in the fame furi< 
He had no fooner fwallowed it, but he fell upoi 
floor, cf Here then," cries Seneca, defcribing the 
fatal effects of drunkennefs, {C is this hero ; invinci- 
" ble to all the toils of prodigious marches, to the 
cf dangers of lieges and combats, to the mod vi 
cc extremes of heat and cold ; here he lies, conquer- 
<f ed by his intemperance, and ftruck to the e.^rtii 
cc by the fet>al cup of Hercules." 

In this condition he was feized with a violent fe- 
ver, and carried half dead to his palace. The fever 
•continued, though with fome good intervals, in 
| which he gave the neccfTary orders for the failing of 
; the fleet, and the marching of his land-forces, being 
perfuaded he fhould foon recover. But at laft, 
finding himfelf pad all hopes, and his voice begin- 
ning to fail, he drew his ring from his finger, and 
I gave it to Perdiccas with orders to convey his ccrpfe 
to the temple of Amnion. 

Notwithstanding his great weaknefs, he however 

ftruggled with death, and railing himfelf upon his 

-elbow, prefented his foldiers (to whom he could not 

jrefufethis laftteflimony of friendship) his dying hand 

to kifs. After this, his principal courtiers alkin 

] whom he left the empire ; he anfwered, TO Tfciii 

I MOST WORTHY ; adding, that he forefaw the 

decifion of this would give occafion to ftrange funer- 

jal games after his difeafe. And Perdiccas, enquir- 

jing further what time they fhould pay him divine 

[honors; he replied, WHEN YOU ARE HAPPY. 

i Thefe were his laft words, and foon after he expired. 

N9L% thirty-two years and eight months old, cf 

X 



254 TfTE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

which hehad reigned twelve. He died in the mid elk 
of thefpring, the firft year of thecxivth Olympiad.* 
No one, fufpe&ed then thaj: Alexander had been 
poifoned ; and yet it is at this time that fuch re- 
ports generally prevail. But the ftite of his body 
proved that he did not die that way ; all his chief 
officers difagreeing amongft themfelves, the corpfe, 
though it lay quite neglected for feverar days in 
Babylon, which (lands in a hot climate, did not fhow 
the lead fymptcms of putrefaction. (I' he true poifon 
which brought him to his end was wine, which has 
killed many thoufands befides Alexander. Ft was 
neverthelefs, believed afterwards, that this prince 
had been poifoned by the treachery of Antipacer's 
fons ; that Caffander, the eldeft of them brought 
the poifon from Greece ; that Jolas, his youngtr 
brother, threw the fatal draught intoAlexander's ci.p, 
of which he was the bearer; and that he cunningly 
chofe the time of the great feaft mentioned before, in 
order that the prodigious quantity of wine he then 
drank, might conceal the true caufe of his death. The 
Hate of Antipater's affairs at that time, gave fome 
grounds for this fufpicion. He was perfuaded that 
he had been recalled with ho other view than to ruin 
him, becaufe of his mal-adminiftration during his 
vice-royalty ; and it was not altogether improbable, 
that he commanded his fons to commit a crime, 
which would fave his own life, by taking away that 
of his fovereign. An undoubted circumftancc is, 
that he could never warn out this (lain ; and that as 
long as he lived, the Macedonians detefted him as a 
traitor who had poifoned their king. Ariftotle was 
aifo fufpected, but with no great foundation. 

The 

* A. M. 3613. Ant, 7. C 32S. 



E LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 355 

The moment that Alexander's death was known, 
i-he whole place echoed with cries and groans. Tlic 
vanquifhed bewailed him with as many tears as 
victors. The grief for his death occafioni.ng t'. 
membrance of his many good qualities, all his fa 
were forgotten. The Perfians declared him to 
been the moil juft, the kindeft love reign that 6 
reigned over them ; the Macedonians tiiQ bed, th.t 
mod valiant prince in the univerfe -, and all ex- 
claimed again ft the gods, for having envioufly be- 
reaved mankind of him, in the flower of his age, 
and the height of his fortune. The Macedonians 
imagined they law Alexander, with a firm and in- 
trepid air, ftiil lead them on to battle, befiege cities, 
climb walls, and reward fuch as had diftingoilhea 
themfelves. They then reproached themfelves for 
having refufed him divine honors ; and confefled- 
they had been ungrateful and impious, for be- 
reaving him of a name he fojuftly merited. 

After paying him this homage of ven era lien 
tea*rs> they turned their whole thoughts and re 
tions on themfelves, and on the fad cor.; 
which they were reduced^ by Alexander's deatb. 
They considered,, that they were on the farthej 
(with refpefl to Macedonia) of the Euphrates, v* 
out a leader to head them j and furrounded 
enemies, who^horred the-ir new yoke. As the ' 
died without nominating, his fucceflbr, a die 
futurity prefented itfelf to their- imagination" 3 a d 
exhibited nothing but divifions, civil wars, a. d- a fa- 
tal neceflity of llill (hedding their blood, and of 
opening their former wounds, not to conquer Aha,, 
but only to give a king to it ; and to raiie to the- 
hrone perhars fome mean ciiicer or wicked wretch. 

This 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER, 

This great mourning was not confined merely cd 
Babylon, but fpread over all the province, and the 
news of it ibon reached Darius's mother. One of 
her daughters was with her, who being ftill inconfo- 
Jable for the death of Hephse'ftion her hufband, the 
fight of the public calamity recalled all her private 
woes. But Syfigambis bewailed the feveral misfor- 
tunes of her family ; and this new affliction awaked 
the remembrance of all its former fufferings. One 
would have thought that Darius was but juft dead,, 
and that this unfortunate mother folemnized the fu- 
neral of two fons at the fame time. She wept the 
jiving no lefs than the dead ; who now, would fhe 
iay, will take care of my daughters -, Where mall 
;.d another Alexander ? She would fancy fhe 
i again reduced to a (late of captivity, and 
that they had loll their kingdom a fecond time ; but 
with this difference., that now Alexander was gone,. 
t.hey had no refuge left. At lad, fhe funk under 
nef. This prir%efs, who had borne with pa- 
c the death of her father, her hufband, of four- 
fecrr. of her brothers, who were murdered in one 
y Ochus, and, to fay all in one word, that of 
us herfon, and the ruin of her family j though 
fhe had ; lb bruit ted- patiently Yo all thefe loffes,, 
ever had not ftrength of mind fufficient tc* 
■Vif after the death of^Wexander. She ; 
tny fuflenance, and Hrved herfelf to 
\, to avoid her furviving this laft calamity. 
After Alexander's death, great contentions arofe 
among the Macedonians, about appointing him: 
a fuccei' After (even days fpent in con- 

llfputes, it was agreed that Anidtus, 



THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 



*5/ 



baftard brother to Alexander fhould be declared 
king; and that in cafe Roxana, wluv was e 
months gone with child, mould be delivered of a 
fon he fhould mare the throne in conjunction with 
Arideus, and that Perdiccas fhould have the care of 
both ; for Arideus was a weak man, and wanted a 
guardian as much as a child. 

The Egyptians and Chaldeans having embalmed 
the king's corpfe after their manner, Arideus was ap- 
pointed to convey it to the temple of Jupitcr-Am- 
mon. Two whole years were employed in prepar- 
ing for this magnificent funeral, which made Olym- 
pias bewail the fate of her fon, who having had th 
ambition to rank himfelf among the gods, was fo 
long deprived of burial, a privilege allowed to 
meanefl of mortals. 




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